Species: Nesomyrmex pittieri

Taxonomic History (provided by Barry Bolton, 2013)

Distribution:

Mexico to Costa Rica. Costa Rica: widespread in wet forest habitats, from sea level to 1000m elevation.

Biology:

Natural History:

This species is a relatively common inhabitant of mature wet forest canopy. Workers can be found in most fresh treefalls. It occurred in 29 of 52 trees fogged by the ALAS project at La Selva. In spite of its commonness in treefalls, I have rarely found nests. In one treefall I found alate queens, one male, and brood packed in a dead stick. In another instance I found scattered workers in small chambers in the live stems of a small hemiepiphytic Coussapoa (Cecropiaceae). In a third instance I found nests in live stems of a Ficus (Moraceae) in a fresh treefall.

Notes:

Costa Rican specimens show variation in color. Lowland specimens are smaller and more infuscated (upper images). Upland specimens more robust and more uniformly orange (lower images).

Taxon Page Author History

Specimen Data Summary

Found most commonly in these habitats: 11 times found in montane wet forest, 6 times found in SSO 350m, 7 times found in CCL 700m., 4 times found in Port of entry, 4 times found in Entre el SHO y SSE, 4 times found in wet forest, 3 times found in lowland wet forest, 3 times found in CES 300m., 2 times found in montane wet forest, 1-day old treefall, 2 times found in CCL 400, ...

Collected most commonly using these methods or in the following microhabitats: 56 times Fogging, 13 times search, 11 times Malaise, 7 times Beating, 2 times Foggin, 2 times Sweeping, 1 times yellow pan trap

Elevations: collected from 20 - 1240 meters, 290 meters average

4 Specimens Imaged | View All 134 Specimens for this species

CASENT0246053

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CASENT0246054

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CASENT0246055

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PSW10608-4

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