Crematogaster lucayana etiolata

Described from one female and many workers taken May 18 and 23 on the keys along the northern shore of the Southern Bight, Andros Island. One of the nests was in a dead branch of a gum mastic tree, the others in Tillandsias on mangroves at the edge of the “swashes.” (Wheeler 1905)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Bahamas.

Nomenclature

 *  etiolata. Crematogaster lucayana subsp. etiolata Wheeler, W.M. 1905b: 95 (w.q.) BAHAMAS. Combination in C. (Acrocoelia): Emery, 1922e: 141.

Worker
Length 3-4 mm.

Differing from the preceding form in sculpture, pilosity, and coloration. Mandibles and cheeks indistinctly striate, the former sparsely punctate. Body smooth and shining, especially the posterior portion of the head and the gaster. Thorax subopaque; pronotum rather coarsely and longitudinally rugosepunctate in front, smoother behind; basal surface of epinotum with numerous longitudinal rugae, declivity smooth and shining.

Hairs white, rather sparse, mostly appressed, longer and suberect on the clypeus, mandibles, front, upper portions of thorax, and gaster. The hairs on the antennal scapes and legs are appressed and inconspicuous.

Yellow; in most specimens the gaster is black with the exception of the posterior border of the first segment; in others all except the two or three terminal segments are yellow, with a black band across their posterior edge. Mandibles reddish with black teeth.

Queen
Length 7 mm.

Resembling the worker in color and pilosity. Head finely and sparsely punctate. Pronotum very smooth and shinging; epinotal spines short, conical, far apart, and directed backward. Body, legs, and antenna- reddish yellow; mandibles and antennal funiculi darker. Thorax and epinotum clouded with brown. Each gastric segment is crossed near its posterior edge by a dark band, which is narrow in the middle and as broad as the segment on either side where it surrounds a deep yellow spot. Venter yellow in the middle. Wings whitish hyaline, with brownish yellow veins and stigma.

Type Material
Described from one female and many workers taken May 18 and 23 on the keys along the northern shore of the Southern Bight, Andros Island. One of the nests was in a dead branch of a gum mastic tree, the others in Tillandsias on mangroves at the edge of the “swashes.”