Gnamptogenys hartmani

One record from soil in a banana farm and another from soil in a destroyed Trachymyrmex nest. These ants have on several occasions been reported as predators of Trachymyrmex ants (Echols, 1964:137; Kempf and Brown, 1968:94). J. Longino (pers. comm.) reports from Costa Rican field notes of Dana Myer: “a nest was found found in leaf litter amidst the remains of a Trachymrmex nest and many cut up workers and a queen of the attines were also found along with many wounded Gnamptogenys workers.” Longino has observed this species carrying its brood in a loose 3 m column, fleeing from raiding Eciton. One specimen was taken from the stomach contents of Dendrobates lecomelas. (Lattke 1995)

Identification
A member of the hartmoni complex (in the regularis subgroup of the mordax species group). Superolateral corners of declivitous propodeal face with small lobes or carinae; mandibles triangular to subtriangular; metanotal groove vaguely impressed and posterior nodal face has longitudinal costulae; metacoxal dorsum with lobes; subpetiolar process subquadrate. The study of specimens at hand show colors vary enough to make it an unreliable character for separating species and the same is true for irregularities in the sculpture. Specimens from more southern localities have finer costulation. Also found to vary continously was the length vs. width of the petiolar node, as well as other size indicators. (Lattke 1995)

Key to New World Gnamptogenys Species

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Nearctic Region: United States. Neotropical Region: Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru.

Nomenclature

 *  hartmani. Ectatomma (Parectatomma) hartmani Wheeler, W.M. 1915b: 390 (w.) U.S.A. Brown, 1961b: 69 (q.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1964b: 450 (l.). Combination in Gnamptogenys: Brown, 1958g: 228. Senior synonym of nigrifrons, turmalis: Lattke, 1995: 169.
 * nigrifrons. Ectatomma (Gnamptogenys) nigrifrons Borgmeier, 1948a: 199, figs. 24, 25 (w.q.) PERU. Combination in Gnamptogenys: Brown, 1958g: 228. Junior synonym of hartmani: Lattke, 1995: 169.
 * turmalis. Gnamptogenys turmalis Kempf & Brown, 1968: 93 (w.) PANAMA. Junior synonym of hartmani: Lattke, 1995: 169.