Tapinoma litorale

This species, which is sufficiently distinct from all the species of Tapinoma of which I have seen descriptions, was very common at Card 's Point, Florida, along the Southern Bight, Andros Island, at West Bay, and about Nassau, N. P. (Fort Charlotte, Blue Hills, Hog Key, etc.). In all of these localities it was found nesting along the, ‘swashes' and beaches between the leaves of Tillandsias, in the hollow culms of Uniola and Cladium, or in the twigs of trees and bushes. It thus resembles in habits Tapinoma ramulorum Emery from Costa Rica. The nest entrance in the culms consisted of a little perforated papilla of gray vegetable paste made by the ants. This papilla projected slightly from the outer surface of the culm, and was often continued a short distance into the cavity inhabited by the insects. Males were found in all the nests opened during May and June. At Card's Point the species seemed to have a predilection for forming double nests with other ants; at any rate I found several colonies living in the same Tillandsias with colonies of Cephalotes varians, Pseudomyrmex elongatulus, or Camponotus planatus. These double nests were in all respects similar to those which I have described from Mexico as cases of parabiosis. (Wheeler 1905).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Nearctic Region: United States. Neotropical Region: Bahamas, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Venezuela.

It has also been found in the United States.

Nomenclature

 *  litorale. Tapinoma litorale Wheeler, W.M. 1905b: 109 (w.q.m.) BAHAMAS. Current subspecies: nominal plus cubaense.

Worker
Length 1.25-1.5 mm.

Head, excluding the mandibles, a little longer than broad, as broad behind as in front, with convex cheeks and straight posterior border. Eyes small, with about 6-7 ommatidia in the longitudinal diameter, flattened, in front of the middle of the head. Mandibles multidenticulate along their entire inner edges, the teeth on the basal portion of the blade being very minute, but gradually increasing in length to the apex. Clypeus broadly rounded in front, slightly sinuate in the middle of the anterior border. Antennal scapes not reaching the posterior angles of the head; first funicular joint as long as the two succeeding joints, second joint broader than long; joints 3-10 subequal, hardly longer than broad, terminal as long as the three preceding joints, constricted at its base, so that it seems to form a one-jointed club. Thorax of the usual shape. Petiole with flattened upper surface, without a node. Basal segment of gaster concealing the petiole. Anus large and terminal.

Subopaque throughout, the surface of the body microscopically reticulate; mandibles feebly punctate.

Body, antennae, and legs uniformly covered with very fine white pubescence. There are a few inconspicuous white hairs on the gaster, clypeus, and mandibles but none on the thorax.

Pale yellow; upper surface of body brownish in some specimens, which have also the posterior edges of the gastric segments broadly yellow. Eyes and mandibular teeth black.

Queen
(dealated). — Length 3-3.5 mm.

Head distinctly narrowed in front. Antennal scape reaching to the posterior corner of the head; terminal joint less distinctly separated from the rest of the funiculus than in the worker. Gaster long and narrow.

Sculpture, pilosity, and pubescence as in the worker, except that the hairs at the tip of the gaster are more numerous.

Head and thorax yellow, with their dorsal surfaces dark brown. Gaster dark brown, posterior edges of segments broadly yellow. Antennre, mouthparts, legs, and petiole yellow. Mandibular teeth and eyes black.

Male
Length 1.3-1.5 mm.

Head large, excluding the mandibles and including the very large prominent eyes, as broad as long. Cheeks very short; postocular borders straight, converging behind, posterior border straight. Ocelli large and protruding. Mandibles hardly as long as the eyes, acute, with finely and obscurely denticulate blades. Clypeus short, with straight anterior border. Antennal scape long, reaching to the posterior corner of the head, funicular joints subequal, distinctly longer than broad, terminal joint about 1 1/2 times as long as the preceding. Thorax rather small, thickset; mesonotum not arched above, hardly as broad as the head. Epinotum sloping, faintly angular in profile. Gaster with large, exserted genitalia, the outer appendages of which are broadly rounded. Wings with one cubital and no discal cell.

Surface of body much more shining than in the worker, microscopically reticulate.

Hairs almost completely absent; pubescence much more dilute than in the worker.

Pale yellow; upper surface of head, thorax, and gaster brownish ; antennae slightly infuscated, inner borders of mandibles black.