Carebara elongata

The type material was collected in a malaise trap.

Identification
Fernández (2004) - A member of the Carebara lignata species complex. This is the most elongated species of the complex. The head is notably longer than wide. The scapes are very short and the frontal lobes and clypeus are also distinctive. This worker is reminiscent of Carebara workers associated with “major” workers (see Carebara intermedia). It is possible that still uncollected majors exist.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia.

Nomenclature

 *  elongata. Carebara elongata Fernández, 2004a: 213, figs. 4H-I, 13 (w) COLOMBIA.

Worker
Type: HW 0.21; HL 0.33; SL 0.15; PW 0.15; WL 0.30; GL 0.35; TL 1.15; CI 64; SI 71.

Head notably longer than wider. Posterior border concave, lateral sides more or less straight, parallel. Mandibles with 4 teeth, the basal at some distance from the remainder. Median portion of clypeus slightly concave. Frontal lobes in full face view sinuous. Scapes short, fail to reach the vertexal border in 1/2 of the head length. Boy elongated. In side view, promesonotum flat. Metanotal groove shallow. Propodeum slightly concave curving into declivity side. Propodeal spiracle relatively small, circular, high and near the propodeal margin. Bulla of metapleural gland small. Propodeal lobes reduced to narrow lamellae that reach more or less the propodeal spiracle. Petiole with short peduncle, evenly continuous with the dorsal rounded node; petiolar node midway along petiolar length. Postpetiole dorsally concave, lower than petiole. In dorsal view petiole subspherical, postpetiole broader than longer and broader than petiole. In dorsal view, anterior margin of first tergum concave. Body smooth and shining. Mandibles with several scattered punctures, head with dense piligerous punctures in the sides, more or less 10-11 punctum each longitudinal row. Sides of alitrunk with feebly longitudinal striation. Sides of petiole with feebly reticulation. Short down-curved hairs (about 0.02 mm) over head, antennae, mandibles, promesonotum, petiole, postpetiole, gaster and legs. Hairs moderate (about 0.03 mm) as follow: Four in promesonotum, four in propodeum, two in petiole, four in postpetiole, several on gaster, two in frontal lobes, several on mandibles. Long hairs (more than 0.04 mm): Four in the clypeus projected forward over most of mandibles length, two on head, near the occipital border. Yellowish brown.

Type Material
Tayrona National Park, Zaíno section, 11°12’01”N 74°02’01”W, 50 m, in Malaise trap, 30 ago-20 sep 2000, R. Henríquez leg. M 624, deposited in. Paratypes. 3 workers, same data as type, deposited in, and.