Azteca sericea

Azteca sericea is known from Mexico and Guatemala, where it is associated with myrmecophytic orchids. (Longino 2007)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Costa Rica, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Mexico, Mexico , Suriname.

Biology
Dejain et al. (2018) found this species nesting in Aechmea bracteata, a large tank bromeliad (leaves ca. 1-m-long; inflorescences up to 1.7-m-long). Each plant forms numerous shoots, with each bearing multiple reservoirs within their leaves and a central dry cavity where ants can nest. Other ants were also found, and both the presence of ants and the ant species present was found to be correlated with changes in the aquatic macroinvertebrate communities within the plants' reservoirs. Azteca sericea was found in 13 of the 92 plants sampled. The study was carried out in an inundated forest dominated by 10-m-tall Metopium brownei (Anacardiaceae). This forest was located in southern Quintana Roo, Mexico (18.42678 N; 88.80438 W; 120 meters a.s.l).

Nomenclature

 *  sericea. Iridomyrmex sericeus Mayr, 1866a: 498, pl. fig. 8 (w.) MEXICO. Wheeler, W.M. 1942: 239 (q.). Combination in Azteca: Forel, 1878: 384. Junior synonym of instabilis: Mayr, 1878: 870. Revived from synonymy: Emery, 1893b: 134. Senior synonym of mexicana: Longino, 2007: 61.
 * mexicana. Azteca instabilis var. mexicana Emery, 1896b: 3 (w.) MEXICO. Junior synonym of sericea: Longino, 2007: 61.

Type Material
Longino (2007) - Syntype workers: Mexico, in pseudobulbs of Schomburgkia tibicinus (Heller) (examined).