Species: Eurhopalothrix circumcapillum

Taxonomic History (provided by Barry Bolton, 2017)

Eurhopalothrix circumcapillum Longino, 2013 PDF: 116, figs 14E, 17, 36 (w.q.) NICARAGUA. Neotropic. AntCat AntWiki

Overview:

A wet forest litter ant from Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

Distribution:

(based on species list records)
Neotropical Region: Alajuela, Americas, Cartago, Central America, Costa Caribe Norte, Costa Rica, Heredia, Jinotega, Limón, Nicaragua

Distribution Notes:

Nicaragua, Costa Rica.

Biology:

This species inhabits mature wet forest from near sea level to lower cloud forest. It is known from 200–1110 m elevation. All specimens are from Winkler samples of sifted litter and rotten wood from the forest floor. On Cerro Saslaya in Nicaragua, it occurs in less than 5% of Winkler samples and occurs more or less evenly from 300–1100 m. In Costa Rica it occurs sporadically on the Atlantic slope.

Identification:

Mandible with single tooth row; face with 14 or 16 specialized spatulate setae (anterior row 6 or 8, middle row 4, posterior row 4); ground pilosity of face spatulate, decumbent, weakly differentiated from specialized projecting setae, in discrete patches on posterolateral face, leaving median strip bare, anterior border of ground pilosity abrupt, at level of anterior row of specialized projecting setae; posteromedian vertex with shallow depression; pronotum with 1 pair spatulate setae, lacking on mesonotum; first gastral tergite typically lacking erect setae. Similar to E. machaquila, E. megalops, E. ortizae, E. oscillum, E. schmidti, E. semicapillum.

Comments:

The name is in reference to the sharply delimited patches of ground pilosity on the face.

The type locality is Cerro Saslaya in Nicaragua.

Specimen Habitat Summary

Found most commonly in these habitats: 9 times found in montane wet forest, 5 times found in mature wet forest, 4 times found in wet forest, 1 times found in Primary wet forest, 3 times found in ridgetop cloud forest, 2 times found in tropical rainforest, with big trees, probably primary, 1 times found in tropical rainforest, with some big trees, probably a mix of primary and secondary forest.

Found most commonly in these microhabitats: 23 times ex sifted leaf litter, 1 times ex sifted leaf litter and rotten wood, 1 times ex sifted leaf litter on ground.

Collected most commonly using these methods: 7 times maxiWinkler, 12 times miniWinkler, 6 times Winkler.

Elevations: collected from 200 - 1110 meters, 640 meters average

Type specimens: holotype Eurhopalothrix circumcapillum Longino 2013: casent0639417; paratype Eurhopalothrix circumcapillum Longino 2013: casent0639410, casent0639411, casent0639412, casent0639413, casent0639414, casent0639415, casent0639416, casent0639418, casent0639419, casent0639420, casent0639421