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Species: Octostruma triangulabrum   Longino, 2013 


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

Octostruma triangulabrum Longino, 2013 PDF: 52, figs 1A, 3A, 5J, 38, 43 (w.) MEXICO. AntCat AntWiki

Overview:

A cryptic inhabitant of forest floor leaf litter and rotten wood; from montane forests in central Chiapas, Mexico.

Distribution:

(based on species list records)
Neotropical Region: Americas, Central America, Chiapas, Mexico, Veracruz

Distribution Notes:

Mexico (Chiapas).

Biology:

Octostruma triangulabrum occurs in montane wet forest habitats, in both mesophyl cloud forest and wet pine-oak forests, throughout the central Chiapas highlands. It occurs from 900–2750 m elevation and can be moderately abundant (up to 13% of 1 m2 plot litter samples in quantitative sampling). It is only known from Winkler and Berlese samples of sifted leaf litter.

Identification:

With the characters of O. wheeleri and O. triquetrilabrum. Differing from O. wheeleri in the presence of 8–12 spatulate setae on face (6 on O. wheeleri) and shallow reticulate rugulose sculpture on face and dorsal pronotum (nearly smooth on O. wheeleri). Differing from both species in a pair of spatulate setae on the mesonotum (lacking in O. wheeleri and O. triquetrilabrum).

Comments:

This species and Costa Rica's O. triquetrilabrum are extremely similar allopatric forms, differing only in the presence or absence of mesonotal setae. Intensive sampling of the litter fauna in cloud forest sites in Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala has failed to reveal additional populations. Both together are quite similar to the lowland O. wheeleri. Octostruma triangulabrum is sharply parapatric with O. wheeleri (see Comments under O. wheeleri).

The name refers to the triangular labrum that is not bilobed at the apex.

Specimen Habitat Summary

Found most commonly in these habitats: 14 times found in mesophil forest, 8 times found in montane wet forest, 1 times found in oak/pine forest, 1 times found in riparian mesophytic forest, 1 times found in wet oak pine forest, 1 times found in pine cloud forest, 1 times found in cloud forest, 1 times found in mixed montane wet forest.

Found most commonly in these microhabitats: 23 times ex sifted leaf litter, 4 times forest litter, 1 times leaf litter.

Collected most commonly using these methods: 20 times MiniWinkler, 6 times Berlese, 1 times MaxiWinkler, 1 times Winkler.

Elevations: collected from 930 - 2750 meters, 1142 meters average

Type specimens: holotype Octostruma triangulabrum Longino 2013: casent0608768; paratype Octostruma triangulabrum Longino 2013: casent0602034, casent0608761, casent0627348, casent0627349, casent0627350, jtlc000009758, jtlc000009759, jtlc000014462, jtlc000014488



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