dcsimg

Biology

provided by Antweb
Natural History:

This species occurs in low to mid-elevation wet to moist forest habitats, where it appears to be completely subterranean. I have a few records of workers from Winkler and Berlese samples, but I more often collect it by finding nests under stones and in small galleries in clay soil. I do not know what an entire colony is like, but I did find a dealate queen in one nest.

This is a very atypical Brachymyrmex. The coarse black setae sprouting from the pale orange integument makes for a striking appearance. It looks like a cross between Brachymyrmex and some Paratrechina.

This species was previously known only from the types. The types were collected in Mexico, "in the Balaam Canche Cave, Chichen Itza, under a stone near the mouth." (Wheeler 1938). Wheeler included the species in a paper on cavernicolous ant species, but admitted that the line between truly cavernicolous ants and subterranean ants was not sharp (he referred to subterranean ants as "microcavernicolous"). It is clear that this species is not associated with caves in any special way.

license
cc-by-nc-sa-4.0
copyright
California Academy of Sciences
bibliographic citation
AntWeb. Version 8.45.1. California Academy of Science, online at https://www.antweb.org. Accessed 15 December 2022.
original
visit source
partner site
Antweb

Distribution Notes

provided by Antweb

Mexico (type locality), Costa Rica. Costa Rica: Peñas Blancas, Maritza, Barva transect at 500m, La Selva, Hitoy Cerere.

license
cc-by-nc-sa-4.0
copyright
California Academy of Sciences
bibliographic citation
AntWeb. Version 8.45.1. California Academy of Science, online at https://www.antweb.org. Accessed 15 December 2022.
original
visit source
partner site
Antweb

Taxonomic History

provided by Antweb
Brachymyrmex cavernicola Wheeler, 1938 PDF: 252 (w.m.) MEXICO. Neotropic. AntCat AntWiki HOL
license
cc-by-nc-sa-4.0
copyright
California Academy of Sciences
bibliographic citation
AntWeb. Version 8.45.1. California Academy of Science, online at https://www.antweb.org. Accessed 15 December 2022.
original
visit source
partner site
Antweb