Species: Leptogenys imperatrix

Taxonomic History (provided by Barry Bolton, 2013)

Distribution:

Honduras, Costa Rica. Costa Rica: montane habitats; known from Monteverde and Penas Blancas Valley down to 800m.

Biology:

Natural History:

This species is relatively common in Monteverde; I have made collections from four nests, and have seen several other nests from which I did not make collections. The colonies are small, and nests are always underground, either with an entrance that is a simple hole at the surface, or emerging into chambers beneath a stone or dead wood. For example, I once turned a dead log and observed workers grab brood and vanish down a tunnel. The tunnel extended down about 10cm to a bottom chamber, where I found only 5 adults, 1 pupa, and 3 larvae. Isopods appear to be the main component of the diet, because the nests are usually surrounded by refuse piles of bleached isopod shells. I have discovered nests in road banks because there was a telltale whitish-gray streak of isopod shells that poured down the slope from the nest entrance. I once excavated a colony and kept it alive for several weeks, offering it a variety of prey. Foragers would take only isopods. Counter to this observation, however, was a worker I captured running across the road carrying a spider as prey.

References:

Mann, W. M. 1922. Ants from Honduras and Guatemala. Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus. 61:1-54.

Taxon Page Author History

Specimen Data Summary

Found most commonly in these habitats: 11 times found in montane wet forest, 10 times found in cloud forest, 6 times found in ridgetop cloud forest, 1 times found in clearing in cloud forest, 2 times found in pine-mesophyll forest, 2 times found in wet forest, 1 times found in 2º cloud forest

Collected most commonly using these methods or in the following microhabitats: 13 times search, 8 times Baiting, 7 times MaxiWinkler, 2 times Berlese, 3 times MiniWinkler, 2 times Flight Intercept Trap, 2 times Malaise, 1 times Beating, 1 times Mini Winkler

Elevations: collected from 500 - 1650 meters, 1278 meters average

1 Specimens Imaged | View All 58 Specimens for this species

INBIOCRI001283938

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