Prenolepis steinheili minuta

Distribution
This taxon was described from Antilles.

Biology
Regional Notes [edit] St Vincent

The opening text of the source (Forel 1893) for the following collection records, by H. H. Smith, states "These notes are given in full, as it is thought that the precise localities in which the species were met with may be of interest to local naturalists."

(19). A common species in open places below 500 ft. The formicarium is of moderate size, under a stone or log, or in a rotten stump. The passages are irregular, about 1/3 in. in diameter, and several inches long; they are formed of bits of sand or rubbish loosely cemented together to form an arcade on the lower side of the stone or log. If the nest is in a stump, these galleries are on the inner surface of the bark, and they may communicate with other passages in the rotten wood. Where the wood furnishes a sufficient wall, there is' no artificial one. Sometimes the arcade widens to an inch or more, forming a covered chamber. These passages somewhat resemble those made by termites, but are not so strong. The ants are rather active, moving about fussily when disturbed.

(19a). Richmond Estate (leeward). Open valley near sea-level. Oct. 31st. The specimens are from two nests under logs. A single female was found in one nest, several males in another.

(19b). Southern end of the island; thicket near the sea. A small nest under a block of Coral. Oct. 14th.

(19c). Cumberland Valley (leeward); open hill-side, 500 ft. Small nest among dead leaves under a stone. Oct. 10th.

(19d). Open dry hill-side near Kingstown, 250 ft. above sea. Nest under a log (only workers seen). Oct. 15th.

(19e). Cumberland Valley. Small nest under a stone; open place near the river, not far from the sea. Oct. 10th.

(19f). Golden Grove E state (leeward). Open place, 300 ft. above sea. Formicarium under a stone (only workers seen).

(19g). Fitz-Hugh Valley (leeward), 500 ft. Nov. 3rd. Second growth, under bark of a rotten log. The colony contained about 200 individuals, with many larvae, but no female was found. Two chambers were excavated under the bark, each about 1 1/2 x 3/4 in.

(19h). Fitz-Hugh Valley, 500 ft.; second growth. Nov. 3rd. A rather small colony at the roots of grass on a rock. No walled passages were observed in this nest, but only tunnels in the sod.

(19i). Wallilobo Valley (leeward), 500 ft.; forest. A rather small colony in rotten wood. Two chambers were uncovered, each about 1 1/2 x 3/4 in. Nov. 8th.

(19j). Villa Estate; southern end of the island; thickets near sea-shore. A small nest under .a stone.

(19k). Camden Park Estate, leeward side north of Kingstown. Nov. 20th. Seashore under a log. Three females, referred to this species, found without workers.

(19l). Petit Bordelle Valley, 1200 ft. Shady place near stream, in rotten wood. Nov. 13th. The formicariuim consisted apparently of a single chamber, about 2 in. long, l in. wide, and ½ in. high, with a short entrance passage. The females (winged) are more active than the workers, running quickly to shelter when disturbed; the males are also active.

(19m). Old Botanical Garden, near Kingstown, 500 ft. Oct. 22nd. On foliage, morning. Males doubtfully referred to this species.

(19n). Windward side, near the Dry River; bank by seashore. Nest under a stone, excavated to a depth of 3 in, with two small chambers, Jan. 3rd. Community of about 300.

(19o), Windward; open land near seashore at Robocca. Jan 2nd. From two ncsts, under stones.

(19p). Windward, seashore thicket, Grand Sable. Jan. 3rd. Community of about 250, under sod on a rock.

Nomenclature

 *  minuta. Prenolepis steinheili var. minuta Forel, 1893g: 343 (w.q.m.) ANTILLES. [Unresolved junior primary homonym of Prenolepis imparis var. minuta Emery, 1893i: 636 (Bolton, 1995b: 314).] Combination in Pr. (Nylanderia): Forel, 1912i: 66; in Paratrechina (Nylanderia): Emery, 1925b: 223; in Nylanderia: Kempf, 1972a: 168; in Paratrechina: Brandão, 1991: 367; in Nylanderia: LaPolla, Brady & Shattuck, 2010a: 127.

Worker
L. 1, 8 a 2, 1 mill. Taus les caracteres sont moins accentues, la couleur plus melee, ce qui le rend parfois difficile a distinguer de la guatemalensis v. alltillana. Du reste comme la forme typique, mais moins pubescente, plus brunatre, avec les hanches, anneux, femoraux, etc., d'un jaunatre plus fonce.

Queen
L. 3, 2 a 4, 4 mill. Comme l'ouvriere. Ailes mediocrement enfumees de brun noiratro. Mesonotum pubescent ainsi que le pronotum et une partie des cotes du thorax. Plus foncee que l'ouvriere.

Male
L. 1, 6 a 2, 2 mill. Tout le corps court, trapu, surtout le thorax. Le metanotum est birn plus voute que chez les males des deux formes precedentes. Soies dressees sensiblement plus grossieres que chez la fulva et la guatamalensis (chez les males do ces dernieres especes, les soies sont beaucoup plus fiucs et plus pointues que chez l'ouvriere), d'un bruu fonce. Coulour do l'ouvriere; hanches et anneaux femoraux tres-pales, thorax seulement un pen plus clair que 1a tete et l'abdomen (beaucoup plus clair chez la guatemalensis). Les valvules genitales sont comme chez la guatemalensis r. antillana, mais les valvules exterieures sont beaucoup plus obtuses a l'extremite, plus courtes, en triangle a cotes tres inegaux (1'un des cotes a une convexite) et colorees en brun fonce.

Type Material
St. Vincent.