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Species: Octostruma megabalzani   Longino, 2013 


Classification:
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Taxonomic History (provided by Barry Bolton, 2017)

Octostruma megabalzani Longino, 2013 PDF: 42, figs 1E, 3D, 5B, 9B, 31, 42 (w.q.) PANAMA. Neotropic. AntCat AntWiki

Overview:

A cryptic inhabitant of cloud forest floor leaf litter and rotten wood.

Distribution:

(based on species list records)
Neotropical Region: Americas, Bolivia, Central America, Chiriquí, Cochabamba, Colombia, Costa Rica, Magdalena, Panama, Peru, Puntarenas, South America

Distribution Notes:

Bolivia, Peru, western Panama, southern Costa Rica.

Biology:

Octostruma megabalzani is a montane species. The lowest elevation record is 950 m in Panama, and the highest record is 2000 m in southern Peru. It has been collected most often in mature cloud forest and montane oak forest habitats, but has also been collected in litter beneath cultivated coffee. All collections are from Berlese and Winkler samples of sifted litter and rotten wood from the forest floor.

Identification:

Differing from O. balzani as follows (O. balzani characters in parentheses): petiole with a pair of erect setae (typically lacking); postpetiole with 2–4 erect setae (0–2); first gastral tergite with 16–22 erect setae, more or less evenly distributed on tergite, gastral setae stiff, flattened, but nearly linear, very weakly clavate (first gastral tergite with 4–16 erect setae, these clustered posteriorly, relatively more broadened apically); color dark brown (red brown); HW 0.61–0.66 (HW 0.50–0.63).

Comments:

The Andean and Central American specimens of O. megabalzani appear identical. Both occur in elevational parapatry with lowland O. balzani. Whether the Andean and Central American populations are members of one montane clade or convergently evolved montane forms is an open question.

Specimen Habitat Summary

Found most commonly in these habitats: 2 times found in oak forest, 1 times found in montane evergreen forest, 2 times found in cloud forest, 1 times found in trans. montane forest, 1 times found in Raparina [riparian?] oak forest, 1 times found in steep primary forest above farms, 1 times found in wet montane forest, 3 times found in oak ridge forest, 1 times found in wet montane cloud forest, 1 times found in wet mountain forest, ...

Found most commonly in these microhabitats: 13 times litter, 1 times leaf litter, 1 times ex sifted leaf litter, 1 times wet forest litter, 1 times sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), 1 times ex log buttress.

Collected most commonly using these methods: 16 times Berlese, 1 times Winkler.

Elevations: collected from 950 - 2000 meters, 1283 meters average

Type specimens: holotype Octostruma megabalzani Longino 2013: mcz-ent00511006; paratype Octostruma megabalzani Longino 2013: mcz-ent00511004, mcz-ent00511005



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