Crematogaster vicina

I cannot distinguish this species from Crematogaster torosa on morphological grounds. It appears to be the only Crematogaster crinosa complex species on Jamaica, and it is very abundant there. The workers build large, completely exposed carton nests that wrap around relatively narrow gauge stems on small trees. This nesting behavior is unique and highly distinctive within the crinosa complex. All other crinosa complex nests I have seen have been in dead wood, with at most small carton baffles around nest entrances and forming partitions inside the nest. Thus the population has been on Jamaica long enough to evolve this distinctive nesting behavior or retained a primitive nesting behavior that has been lost everywhere else. (Longino 2003)

Identification
A Crematogaster crinosa-complex species.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Greater Antilles, Jamaica.

Nomenclature

 *  vicina. Crematogaster vicina André, 1893b: 151 (w.) JAMAICA. Wheeler, W.M. 1917g: 461 (q.m.). Combination in C. (Orthocrema): Emery, 1922e: 134. Subspecies of brevispinosa: Forel, 1912f: 212. Revived status as species: Longino, 2003a: 131. Senior synonym of wighti: Wheeler, W.M. 1917g: 461 (in text).
 * wighti. Crematogaster vicina var. wighti Wheeler, W.M. 1908b: 161 (w.) JAMAICA. Junior synonym of vicina: Wheeler, W.M. 1917g: 461 (in text).

Type Material
Longino (2003) - Syntype worker: Jamaica, Montego Bay (M. Cockerell).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * André E. 1893. Description de quatre espèces nouvelles de fourmis d'Amérique. Rev. Entomol. (Caen) 12: 148-152.
 * Forel A. 1912. Formicides néotropiques. Part III. 3me sous-famille Myrmicinae (suite). Genres Cremastogaster et Pheidole. Mémoires de la Société Entomologique de Belgique. 19: 211-237.
 * Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
 * Longino, J.T. 2003. The Crematogaster (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae) of Costa Rica. Zootaxa 151:1-150
 * Wheeler W. M. 1905. The ants of the Bahamas, with a list of the known West Indian species. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 21: 79-135.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1908. The ants of Jamaica. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 24: 159-163.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1917. Jamaican ants collected by Prof. C. T. Brues. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 61: 457-471.