Adelomyrmex silvestrii (Menozzi, 1931)

Figure 22

Apsychomyrmex silvestrii Menozzi, 1931: 270, fig.6. Holotype worker: Costa Rica, San José (Tristan) [presumably DEI] (not examined). Combination in Adelomyrmex: Kempf, 1972: 18 . See also: Fernández, 2003: 28.

Geographic range. northern Mexico (Tamaulipas) to Costa Rica.

Description. Queen. Similar to worker except for queen-specific characters of large compound eyes, ocelli, and enlarged mesosoma with queen-typical sclerites; pronotum smooth medially, reticulate rugose laterally; dorsal mesonotum mostly longitudinally rugose, weaker anteromedially; scutellum longitudinally rugose; katepisternum smooth and shining with thin strip of rugosity along posterior border; anepisternum and side of propodeum longitudinally rugose.

Biology. Adelomyrmex silvestrii is perhaps the most easily identified Adelomyrmex species, and it is widespread and abundant. It occurs in a wide variety of habitats, mature to secondary, wet to seasonally dry, and sea level to 1700 m elevation cloud forest. It can occur in over 70% of quantitative miniWinkler samples. In spite of its abundance, a nest has never been reported.