Subfamilies
Links
Jack Longino's Ants of Costa Rica
American Museum Social Insects website
William and Emma Mackay Ants of North America site
Gordon and Roy Snelling New World Army Ants
sF Myrmicinae Apterostigma
The Apterostigma are a genus of gracile attines that nest in the soil and in carton nests under leaves. Their alpha taxonomy, unfortunately, is poorly developed. Almost certainly some of the MEK-00X species designations will be clarified as belonging to extant species. The face is particularly useful in separating species. Updated 21December04 based on Longino's treatment see History below.
Sorted by the Webers length (maximum length of the mesonotum from anterior pronotum to the posterior of propedum)
Head length (HL, maximum length of head in full face view, excluding mandibles)
pilosum Mayr 1865
Metanotum lacking longitudinal carinae; anterior margin of clypeus convex, with thin fringe of smooth cuticle; propodeal spiracles not strongly projecting; mesosoma length 1.3-1.7mm; lateral margins of frontal lobes in face view rounded to moderately angulate
WL 1.2 HL 1.0
c.f. goniodes Lattke 1997
Metanotum lacking longitudinal carinae; anterior margin of clypeus convex, with thin fringe of smooth cuticle; mesosoma length 1.2-1.3mm; lateral margins of frontal lobes strongly triangular in face view; dorsal face of propodeum with pair of longitudinal carinae; propodeal spiracles somewhat projecting.
WL 1.75--larger than described
c.f. collare Emery 1896
Metanotum lacking longitudinal carinae; anterior margin of clypeus convex, with thin fringe of smooth cuticle; mesosoma length about 1.7mm; scapes very long, extending far beyond vertex margin (scape length/head width 1.6); neck strongly developed; lateral margins of frontal lobes in face view rounded to gently angular, not appearing strongly inflated (cf. robustum).
WL 1.75 HL 1.2--lobes smaller
c.f. dentigerum WM Wheeler 1925
Metanotum lacking longitudinal carinae; anterior margin of clypeus convex, with thin fringe of smooth cuticle; frontal lobes strongly angular in face view; in lateral view frontal lobes strongly sinuous, with posterior portion upturned; mesosoma length about 1.9mm or greater.
WL 1.90 HL1.45 head more rectangular
auriculatum WM Wheeler 1925
Metanotum with pair of longitudinal carinae (may be faint); anterior margin of clypeus slightly truncate or very weakly convex, opaque, lacking thin fringe of smooth cuticle; base of scape abruptly narrowing and curving under frontal lobe, forming angulate juncture where curved portion joins terete main shaft; propodeum smoothly rounded, with no trace of propodeal teeth; mesosoma length 1.9-2.3mm. WL 2.1 HL 1.4
Updated 20Dec2004
21Dec04 based on Longino's treatment
MEK-002 corresponds to auriculatum.
MEK-001 corresponds to pilosum
"mayri" corresponds to collare
"auriculatum" corresponds to "c.f. dentigerum"
"collare" corresponds to "c.f. goniodes"
