Species: Solenopsis subterranea

Taxonomic History (provided by Barry Bolton, 2013)

Distribution:

Southern USA (Louisiana, Texas [type locality]), Costa Rica. Costa Rica: widespread below 500m elevation.

Biology:

Natural History:

This is a tiny subterranean species that occurs in a wide range of habitats, from Guanacaste dry forest to La Selva rainforest, but always below 500m elevation. It appears to be relatively common in mineral soil beneath the leaf litter layer, based on its distribution in Berlese versus Winkler samples. At La Selva Biological Station, it is very common in Berlese samples that include a cylindrical core of soil beneath the leaf litter, but less common in Winkler samples of sifted leaf litter, which usually do not contain much mineral soil. My records from elsewhere in the country are all occasional occurrences in Winkler samples. I have one record of workers coming to a bait at La Selva. On the Barva Transect, the species is common at La Selva, but attenuates rapidly with elevation, such that by 500m elevation it is very rare.

References:

MacKay, W. P., and S. B. Vinson. 1989. Two new ants of the genus Solenopsis (Diplorhoptrum) from eastern Texas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 91:175-178.

Taxon Page Author History

Specimen Data Summary

Found most commonly in these habitats: 249 times found in mature wet forest, 45 times found in tropical rainforest, 18 times found in tropical wet forest, 12 times found in 2º lowland tropical rainforest, 10 times found in lowland rainforest, 10 times found in 2º lowland rainforest, 7 times found in montane wet forest, 1 times found in Puesto 10, 33g.,10m., 1 times found in Puesto #13,295G,10m., 1 times found in Puesto13,102G,10m, ...

Collected most commonly using these methods or in the following microhabitats: 320 times MiniWinkler, 64 times Berlese, 19 times Winkler, 23 times MaxiWinkler, 8 times Mini Winkler, 3 times baiting, 2 times subterranean trap vienna sausage, 1 times Lure/Bait

Elevations: collected from 20 - 1360 meters, 178 meters average

2 Specimens Imaged | View All 565 Specimens for this species

CASENT0104887

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CASENT0902337

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