Procryptocerus eladio

The type series was collected as scattered workers in the crown of a recent treefall, in midmontane wet forest (a site with high rainfall and heavy epiphyte loads).

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

Nomenclature

 *  eladio. Procryptocerus eladio Longino & Snelling, 2002: 14, fig. 1J (w.) COSTA RICA.

Worker
Holotype: HW 1.179, HL 1.201, SL 0.721, EL 0.286, MeL 1.638, MeW 0.865, PrW 0.551, PrL 0.371, PrS 0.406, PrT 0.777, MTL 0.777, MFL 0.861, MFW 0.290, PtL 0.474, PtW 0.369, PpW 0.533, PtH 0.342, AL 1.507, AW 1.194.

Face to vertex margin with evenly dispersed discrete foveae, distance between foveae subequal to fovea diameter or less; interspaces sublucid, with faint areolate etchings; clypeus produced anteriorly and strongly bent ventrad, concave, with small, shallow foveae; frontal carina extends onto clypeus; separated from and passing above torulus as a differentiated carina; genae closely foveate; genal bridge irregularly rugose; mandible longitudinally striate; in anterior view, eyes asymmetrically convex, skewed ventrad; scape with flange over condyle and neck, narrowing and terete above flange, broadening and flattening distally; surface of scape finely areolate, outer lateral margin shallowly punctatorugose; vertex margin angulate and somewhat crenate; vertex shiny with coarse, longitudinal striae radiating from occiput.

Mesonotal lobes completely absent; propodeal lobes in the form of weak convexities; in dorsal view spiracular gibbosities project from sides of propodeum, extending farther than propodeal lobes; spiracle openings face posteriorly; promesonotum uniformly foveate throughout; propodeal suture with longitudinal striae; dorsal face of propodeum longitudinally striate with a few foveae; propodeal suture in the form of an arched constriction, deeper laterally than medially, in profile not impressed, posterior mesonotum and dorsal face of propodeum meeting at very shallow angle; propodeal spines long, directed posteriorly; posterior face of propodeum nearly perpendicular to dorsal face, completely smooth and shining; dorsal face of pronotum broadly rounds into lateral face; lateral face foveate on upper half, grading into longitudinally striate on ventral half; anepisternum striatefoveate; katepisternum longitudinally striate; ventrolateral face of propodeum longitudinally striate; forecoxae striate; hind femur strongly swollen medially, spindle-shaped; outer surfaces of tibiae smooth and shining, with sparse piligerous puncta; posterior face of forefemur smooth and shining.

Petiole subcylindrical, longer than high, anterior face small, smooth and shining, posterodorsal face shallowly convex, rugose-foveate; ventral margin of petiole flat, with a ventrally directed, acute anterior tooth; postpetiole with gently sloping anterior face, a broad, rounded summit, and a more steeply sloping posterior face; anterior face rugose-foveate; posterior face foveate; ventral margin short, with a prominent, acute anterior tooth; first gastral tergite completely smooth and shining; first gastral sternites with anterolateral patches of oblique rugulae, remainder shiny with sparse piligerous puncta; second gastral tergite sublucid with microreticulate sculpture.

Face with fewer than 10 short, stiff setae; pronotum with about 10 short stiff setae along anterior border; mesonotum with six or fewer short stiff setae; dorsal face of propodeum with pair of short, stiff setae on lateral lobes, or these setae absent; petiolar dorsum with two and postpetiolar dorsum with about four longer, stiff setae; first gastral tergite with sparse, extremely short, completely appressed setae, no erect setae of any kind; first gastral sternites with dense, suberect, long pubescence; color entirely shining black.

Type Material
HOLOTYPE WORKER. Costa Rica, Prov. Alajuela: Rio Penas Blancas, 10°19’N 84°43’W, 800 m, 25 Jun 1991 (Longino #2932-s). Barcode: LACMENT 144292.

PARATYPES. One worker, same data as holotype, barcode LACM ENT 141663 ; one worker, same data as holotype, barcode LACM ENT 141664 ; one worker, same data as holotype, barcode LACM ENT 140642.

Etymology
The species is named in honor of Eladio Cruz, whose former homestead is the type locality of this new species. Eladio has contributed greatly to conservation efforts in the Penas Blancas Valley. The name is used here as a noun in apposition.