Acromyrmex octospinosus

Acromyrmex octospinosus is a host species of the social parasite Acromyrmex insinuator.

Identification
Median pronotal spines usually present and distinct, occasionally reduced or absent; head tapering behind eyes; head width less than or equal to 1.7 mm.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela.

Biology
Fernandez- Marin et al. (2003) - Incipient nests of Acromyrmex octospinosus have only 3-7 workers.

Nehring et al. (2015) - While this species is parastized by queens of Acromyrmex insinuator, this social parasite is not able to reproduce in Acromyrmex octospinosus colonies. The sympatric Acromyrmex echinatior is also parasitized by A. insinuator and is able to reproduce within colonies of this other host.

Weber (1958) - The springtail species Cyphoderus inaequalis Folsom (Lepidocyrtidae: Cyphoderinae) is known from nests of this ant.

Nomenclature

 *  octospinosus. Formica octospinosa Reich, 1793: 132 (w.) FRENCH GUIANA. Forel, 1893e: 590 (s.q.m.); Wheeler, G.C. 1949: 674 (l.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1986d: 496 (l.). Combination in Atta: Emery, 1892b: 163; in Atta (Acromyrmex): Forel, 1893e: 590; in Acromyrmex: Mann, 1916: 454. Senior synonym of guentheri: Emery, 1894c: 220; of pallida Crawley: Wheeler, W.M. 1937c: 70. See also: Gonçalves, 1961: 157. Current subspecies: nominal plus cubanus, ekchuah, inti.
 * guentheri. Atta (Acromyrmex) guentheri Forel, 1893e: 594 (s.w.q.m.) TRINIDAD. Junior synonym of octospinosus: Emery, 1894c: 220.
 * pallida. Acromyrmex octospinosa var. pallida Crawley, 1921: 92 (s.w.) GUYANA. [Unresolved junior secondary homonym of Oecodoma pallida Smith, above.] Junior synonym of octospinosus: Wheeler, W.M. 1937c: 70.