Species: Gnamptogenys sulcata

Taxonomic History (provided by Barry Bolton, 2013)

Distribution:

Mexico to tropical South America (Lattke 1995). Costa Rica: La Selva and Osa Peninsula.

Biology:

This species inhabits lowland rainforest, and is known from isolated workers, usually encountered in fresh treefalls or Malaise traps. Relative to the morphologically similar G. tornata, it appears to be more arboreal. In contrast to G. tornata, G. sulcata is rarely collected in Winkler samples.

Identification:

Promesonotal suture absent; scapes surpass margin of vertex when laid back; mandibles smoothly curving such that basal and apical margins form a continuous convexity; head in back of antennal insertions black or nearly so; mandibles straw yellow, contrasting sharply with black of cranium; mesosoma, node and gaster varying from black to yellowish-red; eyes relatively large and elongate (eye length = 0.36, width = 0.23, n=2 workers).

Comments:

Over the full geographic range it is difficult to separate G. sulcata and G. tornata into two discrete forms, which led Lattke to synonymize them. However, at this point DNA barcoding is confirming that in Central America there are two broadly sympatric species. Gnamptogenys sulcata always has strongly contrasting ivory-colored mandibles that contrast with the dark face, and the eyes are relatively larger and more elongate. Gnamptogenys tornata is highly variable in color but never seems to have ivory-colored mandibles, and the eye is smaller and less elongate. Measurements are needed to confirm this, but it looks pretty consistent when I looked through a few dozen collections from throughout Central America.

References:

Brown, W. L., Jr. 1958. Contributions toward a reclassification of the Formicidae. II. Tribe Ectatommini (Hymenoptera). Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 118:175-362.

Gentry, A. H. 1990. Herbarium taxonomy versus field knowledge; is there an attainable solution? Flora Malesiana Bulletin Special Volume 1:31-35.

Lattke, J. E. 1995. Revision of the ant genus Gnamptogenys in the New World (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 4:137-193.

Smith, F. 1858. Catalogue of hymenopterous insects in the British Museum. VI. Formicidae. 216pp., 14 pls.

Taxon Page Author History

Taxonomic Treatment (provided by Plazi)

Specimen Data Summary

Found most commonly in these habitats: 3 times found in tropical wet forest, 2 times found in rainforest, 2 times found in montane wet forest, 1 times found in STR 2050, 1 times found in tropical rainforest, 1 times found in 2nd growth veg., 1 times found in 2º tropical rainforest, 1 times found in cerrado, 1 times found in Humid chaco, 1 times found in in rainforest, ...

Collected most commonly using these methods or in the following microhabitats: 7 times Malaise, 3 times Search, 2 times Beating, 1 times Flight intercept pan trap

Elevations: collected from 20 - 1260 meters, 391 meters average

8 Specimens Imaged | View All 22 Specimens for this species

CASENT0173387

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CASENT0178681

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CASENT0179984

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CASENT0217488

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CASENT0900550

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