Pseudomyrmex evitus

P. evitus is an uncommon species, known from scattered locations from southern Mexico to Costa Rica. Collections come from tropical moist forest, lowland rainforest, lowland rainforest edge, and montane rainforest, at elevations ranging from 50 m to 1170 m. I have encountered this species in the field only at Estación de Biología Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico, where I found single foragers on the ground and on a tree trunk, and a nest in a dead twig. In contrast to the acacia-ants the workers of P. evitus have a timid disposition. (Ward, 2017)

Identification
Medium-sized species (see HL, HW and LHT measurements) with broad head (CI >1.00) and elongate eyes (REL >0.50); anterior margin of median clypeal lobe concave, and laterally angulate; palp formula 4,3; frontal carinae separated by less than basal scape width; profemur relatively robust; mesosoma as in Fig. 2b, metanotal groove weakly impressed; dorsal face of propodeum slightly longer than, and rounding into, declivitous face; petiole as in Fig. 2b, about twice as long as high or wide, anterodorsal face ascending gradually, without a well differentiated anterior peduncle; dorsal surface of petiole with a weak median furrow; postpetiole broad, about 1.6–1.7× petiole width. Head, mesosoma and petiole densely punctulate-coriarious and mostly opaque; postpetiole and abdominal tergite IV similarly opaque, their reflectance dulled by fine punctulae and associated dense pubescence. Standing pilosity fine, pale, and moderately common on most parts of the body (MSC 13–26), present on the mesonotum and (usually) propodeum. Dark brownish-black, the appendages medium brown.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico.

Biology
P. evitus is an uncommon species, known from scattered locations from southern Mexico to Costa Rica. Collections come from tropical moist forest, lowland rainforest, lowland rainforest edge, and montane rainforest, at elevations ranging from 50 m to 1170 m. I have encountered this species in the field only at Estación de Biología Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico, where I found single foragers on the ground and on a tree trunk, and a nest in a dead twig. In contrast to the acacia-ants the workers of P. evitus have a timid disposition.

Nomenclature

 *  evitus. Pseudomyrmex evitus Ward, 2017: 531, fig. 2 (w.) COSTA RICA.