Global: All Antweb > Formicidae > Myrmicinae > Pheidole > Pheidole boruca
See all Pheidole boruca in Bolton World Catalog
or in

Species: Pheidole boruca

Name Status: Valid Name

Taxonomic Hierarchy:

Subfamily: Myrmicinae Genus: Pheidole

Taxonomic History (provided by Barry Bolton, 2013)

Pheidole boruca Wilson, 2003A: 172, figs. (s.w.) COSTA RICA. AntCat AntWiki

Distribution:

Costa Rica: Atlantic slope and montane areas.

Biology:

Natural History:

This species is very common in Winkler samples from mature wet forest, from 50m elevation at La Selva to cloud forest areas in the Talamancas and Monteverde. Workers have been observed on the ground at night, and at baits during the day. Nests have been observed in and under dead wood on the ground.

Taxon Page Author History

Taxonomic Treatment (provided by Plazi)

Wilson, E. O.:
etymology Named after the Boruca Amerindians, one of the surviving native tribes of Costa Rica.
Diagnosis Major: carinulae originating on the frontal lobes curve laterally above the eyes, many reaching the lateral margins of the head seen in full-face view; posterior quarter of dorsal surface of head, including occiput, covered by scattered conspicuous foveae. Media caste present in type series (a possible developmental anomaly). Similar to violacea of Costa Rica, especially in the peculiar pattern of cephalic carinulae, but nests on the ground (instead of in arboreal ant gardens), lacks the bluish reflections on the body of the minor, has a media caste, and is different in the major and minor castes in many details of body form, sculpturing, and pilosity as illustrated. See also the less similar aculifera (in the fallax group), prostrata , and variegata .
Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.10, HL 1.10, SL 0.78, EL 0.20, PW 0.48.
Paratype minor: HW 0.54, HL 0.66, SL 0.84, EL 0.12, PW 0.36.
color Major: body dark, almost blackish brown; appendages medium brown.
Minor: body blackish brown, appendages medium brown.
Range Atlantic slope and montane regions of Costa Rica (Longino 1997).
Biology Longino (1997): very common in Winkler samples from mature wet forest, from 50 m elevation at La Selva Biological Station to cloud forest in the Talamancas and at Monteverde. Longino found nests under pieces of dead wood on the ground, and observed workers foraging on the ground day and night.
Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor, and partial head of media. COSTA RICA: Monteverde, Puntarenas, 10Ã‚Â° 18 IM 84Ã‚Â°48W, 1500 m (J. T. Longino). Scale bars = 1 mm.

Specimen Data Summary

Found most commonly in these habitats: 125 times found in mature wet forest, 119 times found in montane wet forest, 55 times found in cloud forest, 62 times found in tropical wet forest, 28 times found in tropical rainforest, 26 times found in ridgetop cloud forest, 8 times found in lowland rainforest, 4 times found in wet forest, 3 times found in 2º lowland rainforest, 1 times found in LOC, ...

Collected most commonly using these methods or in the following microhabitats: 195 times miniWinkler, 84 times Winkler, 91 times baiting, 30 times Mini Winkler, 28 times MaxiWinkler, 5 times Search, 7 times Berlese, 8 times Pitfall, 8 times flight intercept trap, 6 times Lure/Bait, 7 times Malaise, ...

Elevations: collected from 30 - 1670 meters, 677 meters average