Gnamptogenys ericae

Can be found nesting in disturbed forests and coffee plantations as well as in undisturbed forests.

Identification
A member of the ericae complex (in the ericae subgroup of the sulcata species group). Mandibles subtriangular; posterior mesosomal dorsum and propodeum with longitudinal costulae, transverse sutures barely visible under certain angles of lighting; small metacoxal tooth. Body black; antennae, legs and mandibles brown to dark brown. Color in this species is relatively constant but occasional ferruginous, brown or mottled specimens will turn up. Size and shape of the petiolar node does not vary as much as in Gnamptogenys sulcata. Workers seem to always have longitudinal costulae on the propodeal declivity, though queens may have transverse costulae. (Lattke 1995)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia, Guyana.

Nomenclature

 *  ericae. Ectatomma (Gnamptogenys) tornatum var. ericae Forel, 1912c: 33 (w.) COLOMBIA. Combination in Gnamptogenys: Brown, 1958g: 229. Junior synonym of tornata: Brown, 1958g: 229. Revived from synonymy, raised to species and senior synonym of bufonum: Lattke, 1995: 166.
 * bufonum. Gnamptogenys sulcatum subsp. bufonum Weber, 1938a: 208 (w.) GUYANA. Junior synonym of sulcata: Brown, 1958g: 229; of ericae: Lattke, 1995: 166.

Determination Clarifications
Much confusion has accumulated regarding the identity of this species and the similar Gnamptogenys sulcata. Many previous references to sulcata are actually ericae, but the confusion makes it quite difficult to distinguish between each reference.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Arias-Penna T. M. 2008. Subfamilia Ectatomminae. Pp. 53-107 in: Jiménez, E.; Fernández, F.; Arias, T.M.; Lozano-Zambrano, F. H. (eds.) 2008. Sistemática, biogeografía y conservación de las hormigas cazadoras de Colombia. Bogotá: Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, xiv + 609 pp.
 * Fernandes I., and J. de Souza. 2018. Dataset of long-term monitoring of ground-dwelling ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the influence areas of a hydroelectric power plant on the Madeira River in the Amazon Basin. Biodiversity Data Journal 6: e24375.
 * Franco W., N. Ladino, J. H. C. Delabie, A. Dejean, J. Orivel, M. Fichaux, S. Groc, M. Leponce, and R. M. Feitosa. 2019. First checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of French Guiana. Zootaxa 4674(5): 509-543.
 * Lattke J. E. 1995. Revision of the ant genus Gnamptogenys in the New World (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 4: 137-193
 * Lattke J. E., F. Fernández, E. E. Palacio. 2004. Una nueva especie de Gnamptogenys (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) y comentarios sobre las especies del género en Colombia y Ecuador. Iheringia. Série Zoologia 94: 341-349.
 * Lattke J. E., F. Fernández, T. M. Arias-Penna, E. E. Palacio, W. MacKay, and E. MacKay. 2008. Género Gnamptogenys Roger. Pp. 66-100 in: Jiménez, E.; Fernández, F.; Arias, T.M.; Lozano-Zambrano, F. H. (eds.) 2008. Sistemática, biogeografía y conservación de las hormigas cazadoras de Colombia. Bogotá: Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, xiv + 609 pp.
 * Lozano-Zambrano F. H., E. Jimenez, T. M. Arias-Penna, A. M. Arcila, J. Rodriguez, and D. P. Ramirez. 2008. Biogeografía de las hormigas cazadoras de Colombia. Pp. 349-406. in: Jiménez, E.; Fernández, F.; Arias, T.M.; Lozano-Zambrano, F. H. (eds.) 2008. Sistemática, biogeografía y conservación de las hormigas cazadoras de Colombia. Bogotá: Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, xiv + 609 pp.
 * Rodriguez E. R., and J. E. Lattke. 2012. Diversidad de hormigas en un gradiente altitudinal de la cordillera de la Costa, Venezuela. Boletín de la Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa (S.E.A.) 50: 295?304.
 * Weber N. A. 1938. New ants from stomachs of Bufo marinus L. and Typhlops reticulatus (L). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 31: 207-210.
 * Weber N. A. 1938. The food of the giant toad, Bufo marinus (L.), in Trinidad and British Guiana with special reference to the ants. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 31: 499-503.
 * da Silva de Oliveira A. B., and F. A. Schmidt. 2019. Ant assemblages of Brazil nut trees Bertholletia excelsa in forest and pasture habitats in the Southwestern Brazilian Amazon. Biodiversity and Conservation 28(2): 329-344.