Pheidole carapuna

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 672

Pheidole carapuna Mann

Pheidole carapuna Mann 1916: 432. Syn.: Pheidole carapuna var. chaquimayensis Wheeler 1925a: 20, n. syn.

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Unknown.

Diagnosis A small, brownish red (major) to yellow (minor) species belonging to a group of ambiguous species composing the " carapuna complex" ( boltoni , carapuna , cornicula , cuprina , eriophora , jivaro , manuana , and tristicula ). All are relatively small in size, with the major possessing a reduced mesonotal convexity, as well as cephalic sculpturing that consists entirely of longitudinal carinulae extending to or almost to the occipital border seen in full-face view. All also have a minor with a broad, concave occiput, which lacks a collar.

Among these species, P. carapuna is close to tristicula (q.v.), distinguished in the major by its darker color, reduced pronotal carinulae and absence of carinulae in the posteriormost lateral quarters of the dorsal head surface seen in full-face view.

Measurements (mm) Lectotype major: HW 1.08, HL 1.28, SL 0.60, EL 0.14, PW 0.60.

Paralectotype minor: HW 0.48, HL 0.52, SL 0.44, EL 0.08, PW 0.32.

Color Major: body and head a rich medium brownish red, gaster light brown.

Minor: concolorous light yellow.

Range Amazonian Brazil and Peru north to Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, and the southern Pacific lowlands of Costa Rica and Honduras.

Biology In Costa Rica, Longino (1997) found carapuna in lowland rainforest, where it nests and forages on and near the forest floor. In Costa Rica's Corcovado National Park, he discovered a nest under the bark of a rotten log, and elsewhere observed workers recruiting at night to a dead tabanid fly on a vertical tree trunk close to the ground.

Figure Upper: lectotype, major. Lower: paralectotype, minor. BRAZIL: Madeira-Mamore rail track; km 284, Rondonia (William M. Mann). Scale bars = 1 mm.