Carebara reticulata

The species is represented principally by Winkler trap captures from soil and leaf litter of coffee agroecosystems in the mountains of the Central Cordillera of Colombia, between 1200 and 1600 m above sea level.

Identification
Fernández (2004) - A member of the Carebara lignata species complex. This species can be separated easily from other known species of the complex by the dense reticulation on the sides of the thorax, which extends to the sides of the petiole, postpetiole, and dorsum of the petiolar peduncle. The ventral spine of the petiole is strong, directed forwards, and visible in specimens with the petiole raised.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia.

Nomenclature

 *  reticulata. Carebara reticulata Fernández, 2004a: 218, figs. 5A-E, 9, 13 (w.) COLOMBIA.

Worker
Type (Paratypes n=3): HW 0.29 (0.27-0.29); HL 0.36 (0.35-0.36); SL 0.19 (0.18-0.19); PW 0.19 (0.18-0.19); WL 0.36 (0.34-0.36); GL 0.33 (0.33); TL 1.28 (1.24-1.28); CI 81 (79-81); SI 66 (66-68).

Head slightly longer than wide. Posterior border slightly concave, lateral sides faintly concave. Mandibles with 4 teeth (basal one reduced). Median portion of clypeus straight to slightly concave. Scapes fail to reach the vertexal border in 1/3 of the head length. In side view, alitrunk slightly convex, interrupted by the deep metanotal groove. Promesonotal suture impressed laterally. Mesonotal groove deep and well-marked dorsally and laterally. Propodeum with feeble angulation between dorsal and sloping faces. Propodeal spiracle relatively small, circular, high and near the propodeal margin. Bullae of metapleural gland small. Propodeal lobes reduced to narrow lamellae that more or less reach the propodeal spiracle. Petiole with short peduncle, evenly continuous with the dorsal rounded node; petiolar node midway along petiolar length. Subpetiolar process produced as strong spine directed forward, spine normally not visible in mounted specimens. Postpetiole dorsally concave, lower than petiole. In dorsal view petiole subspherical, postpetiole broader than long and broader than petiole. In dorsal view anterior margin of first tergum straight. Body smooth and shining. Mandibles with several scattered punctures, head densely puncturated (except in the central longitudinal area), each punctum with a small hair. Anterior half of head with very fine longitudinal striation. Sides of alitrunk (except pronotum), petiole, postpetiole and dorsum of petiolar peduncle densely reticulated, sometimes the sculpturing poorly defined. Short curved hairs (less than 0.05 mm) over head, antennae, mandibles, legs, promesonotum, as well as a few in petiole. Longer hairs (more than 0.05 in length): Four arising from the anterior clypeal margin projected forward near the mandibular apices; two near the pronotal humeri, two in the promesonotal dorsum, near the posterior margin; two in the propodeal dorsum, two in petiole, two in postpetiole, several on first tergum. Reddish brown.

Type Material
Holotype worker. COLOMBIA. Quindío: Filandia, Barbas River, 4°42’59”N 75°38’59”W, forest, 1655 m, winkler trap, 5 feb 2000, J. Sossa, leg., deposited in.

Paratypes. 1 worker, same data as type; COLOMBIA. Quindío: 2 workers, Génova, vda. El Dorado, Fca. San Isidro, 4°12’N 75°47’W, 1500 m, winkler, 31 oct 1999, J. Sossa leg.; 1 worker, idem, vda. El Cedral, Fca. Buenos Aires, 4°14’06”N 75°46’32”W, 1600 m, winkler trap in café plantation mixed with “shadow treees”, 28 sep 1999, E. L. González leg.; 2 workers, Calarcá, vda. Santo Domingo, Fca. Santa Librada, 4°31’55N 75°37’61W, 1500 m, winkler trap, J. Sossa, leg.; 2 workers, Quimbaya, vda. El Laurel, Fca. Balmoral, 4°35’15”N 75°47’39”W, 1200 m, winkler trap, 4 nov 1999, J. Sossa, leg.; 1 worker, Córdoba, vda. San Diego, Fca. San Diego, 4°24’12”N 75°41’24”w, 1350 m, winkler in guadual, 3 feb 2000, J. Sossa leg. Paratypes deposited in, IAvH, , , , and.