Rhopalothrix subspatulata

This species occurs in lowland rainforest, from 50–800m elevation. Of the approximately 50 workers known, one was collected in a Malaise trap sample and the rest were in Berlese or Winkler samples. The Winkler samples were of sifted litter and rotten wood on the forest floor; the Berlese samples were cores of forest floor litter and about 5–10cm of the mineral soil beneath. At La Selva Biological Station, 3% of 208 Berlese samples and 2% of 640 miniWinkler samples contained workers. Given that each miniWinkler sample covered an area about 60 times greater than a Berlese sample (1 sq. m versus 165 sq. cm), R. subspatulata was far more abundant in Berlese samples. This suggests that R. subspatulata, and perhaps Rhopalothrix in general, are subterranean, nesting and foraging in mineral soil, and perhaps only rarely venturing up into the litter layer. The pale color and greatly reduced eyes also suggest subterranean habits.

Alate queens were collected in three of 50 canopy fogging samples from the ALAS project at La Selva: 8 October and 10 November 1994 and 28 December 1999 (mid to late wet season). This suggests that the species mates above ground and has normally dispersing queens.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Costa Rica, Nicaragua.

Nomenclature

 *  subspatulata. Rhopalothrix subspatulata Longino & Boudinot, 2013: 316, figs. 1D, 2D, 3B, 4, 12, 16 (w.q.) COSTA RICA.