Crematogaster crinosa

Gillette et al. (2015) in a Chaipas, Mexico field study of twig-nesting ants in coffee plants found C. crinosa nesting on plants between 1150-1450 m in elevation.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Nearctic Region: United States. Neotropical Region: Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Greater Antilles, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Lesser Antilles, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela.



Nomenclature

 *  crinosa. Crematogaster crinosa Mayr, 1862: 767 (w.) BRAZIL. Mayr, 1887: 627 (q.m.). Combination in C. (Orthocrema): Emery, 1922e: 134. Senior synonym of brevispinosa, chathamensis, minutior, recurvispina, sampaioi, schuppi, striatinota, townsendi and material of the unavailable name semisericea referred here: Longino, 2003a: 49.
 * brevispinosa. Crematogaster brevispinosa Mayr, 1870a: 403 (w.) COLOMBIA. Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1952b: 260 (l.). Combination in C. (Orthocrema): Santschi, 1918d: 182. Junior synonym of crinosa: Longino, 2003a: 49.
 * minutior. Crematogaster brevispinosa var. minutior Forel, 1893g: 399 (w.q.) ANTILLES. Combination in C. (Orthocrema): Emery, 1922e: 134. Subspecies of brevispinosa: Forel, 1897b: 300. Junior synonym of crinosa: Longino, 2003a: 49.
 * schuppi. Crematogaster brevispinosa var. schuppi Forel, 1901d: 299 (w.q.) BRAZIL. Combination in C. (Orthocrema): Emery, 1922e: 134. Junior synonym of crinosa: Longino, 2003a: 49.
 * recurvispina. Crematogaster brevispinosa r. recurvispina Forel, 1912f: 212 (w.) BRAZIL. Combination in C. (Orthocrema): Emery, 1922e: 134; Santschi, 1925d: 230. Junior synonym of crinosa: Longino, 2003a: 49.
 * sampaioi. Crematogaster brevispinosa r. sampaioi Forel, 1912f: 213 (w.q.m.) BRAZIL. Combination in C. (Orthocrema): Emery, 1922e: 134. Junior synonym of crinosa: Longino, 2003a: 49.
 * striatinota. Crematogaster brevispinosa var. striatinota Forel, 1912f: 211 (w.) COLOMBIA. Junior synonym of crinosa: Longino, 2003a: 49.
 * townsendi. Crematogaster (Orthocrema) brevispinosa subsp. townsendi Wheeler, W.M. 1925a: 25 (w.) PERU. Junior synonym of crinosa: Longino, 2003a: 49.
 * chathamensis. Crematogaster (Orthocrema) brevispinosa subsp. chathamensis Wheeler, W.M. 1933a: 58 (w.) ECUADOR (Galapagos Is). Junior synonym of crinosa: Longino, 2003a: 49.

Worker
Wheeler (1933) for Crematogaster brevispinosa chathamensis - Length 2.5-3.3 mm.

Head slightly broader than long in the largest specimens, with slightly concave posterior border. Eyes elongate, flattened, near the middle of the sides. Clypeus convex, with nearly straight, transverse anterior border. Antennal scapes not reaching to the posterior border of the head; funiculi with distinctly 2•jointed club; basal funicular joints, except the first, broader than long. Thorax short; pro- and mesonotum convex and hemispherical; mesoepinotal impression short and deep; base of epinotum short, anteriorly very convex and rising rather abruptly from the impression; declivity much longer, sloping; spines suberect, much shorter than their distance apart at the base, their tips slender and acute, sometimes slightly recurved. Petiole somewhat longer than broad, subelliptical, as broad behind as in front, with rounded sides and distinctly dentate posterior corners, anteroventrally with a strong spine, directed forward and downward. Postpetiole short and convex, narrower than the petiole, without median dorsal groove. Legs rather short and stout.

Mandibles, clypeus, front, gula and sides of head finely, longitudinally striate; posterior portion of head smooth and shining, with sparse piligerous punctures. Thorax subopaque, only the epinotal declivity shining; pronotum transversely, mesonotum and base of epinotum longitudinally striate; meso- and metapleurae evenly and densely punctate. Petiole and postpetiole shining, the former smooth above and coarsely reticulate below, the latter delicately longitudinally rugulose. Gaster subopaque, finely punctate.shagreened.

Hairs pale, sparse, blunt and erect on the thorax, pedicel and gaster; head, scapes and gaster with long, sparse, appressed pubescence; legs with similar but finer pubescence.

Large workers red, with the thorax and posterior portion of the gaster black; trochanters and tarsi yellow; smaller workers darker, blackish, with mandibles, antenne, tibiae and tarsi reddish; trochanters yellow.

Type Material
Crematogaster brevispinosa chathamensis Described from ten workers taken on Chatham Island (IV.17.'32). Lectotype, C. A. S. Ent. No. 3689.