Apterostigma dentigerum

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama.

Biology
Gonzalez et al. (2016) found that, a fly in the family Chloropidae, parasitizes larvae of Apterostigma dentigerum. Larval ﬂies are solitary ectoparasitoids, each of which attaches to a single ant larva and develops from larva to pupa in 2 wk, consuming nearly the entire host, and then ecloses as an adult 1 wk later. Overall parasitism prevalence was 6.8% of 203 nests, and flies were active during both the dry and rainy seasons. Intensity of parasitism ranged from 18.2 to 100% of larvae attacked per parasitized nest. No other species of Apterostigma that nested in the same localities were parasitized by the flies, including Apterostigma pilosum (n = 93 nests) and Apterostigma auriculatum (n = 10 nests). All immature ants, parasitized or not, as well as immature stages of Pseudogaurax paratolmos, were attended by adult ants that exhibited normal brood care behavior, including covering immatures with mycelia, grooming, and maintaining brood in the fungus garden.

Nomenclature

 *  dentigerum. Apterostigma dentigerum Wheeler, W.M. 1925a: 51 (w.q.m.) COSTA RICA. Senior synonym of angulatum, dubium: Weber, 1958c: 246. See also: Lattke, 1997: 151.
 * angulatum. Apterostigma collare subsp. angulatum Weber, 1938b: 169, figs. 4, 12 (w.q.) PANAMA. Wheeler, G.C. 1949: 667 (l.). Raised to species: Weber, 1941b: 111. Junior synonym of dentigerum: Weber, 1958c: 246.
 * dubium. Apterostigma collare subsp. dubium Weber, 1938b: 168, figs. 6, 14, 19 (w.q.) PANAMA. Raised to species: Weber, 1941b: 110. Junior synonym of dentigerum: Weber, 1958c: 246.