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Species: Tranopelta gilva

Name Status: Valid Name

Taxonomic Hierarchy:

Subfamily: Myrmicinae Genus: Tranopelta

Taxonomic History (provided by Barry Bolton, 2013)

Tranopelta gilva Mayr, 1866a PDF: 514 (q.m.) VENEZUELA. AntCat AntWiki

Taxonomic history

Wheeler, 1922g PDF: 6 (w.); Wheeler & Wheeler, 1955c PDF: 131 (l.).

Senior synonym of Tranopelta amblyops (and its junior synonym Tranopelta brunnea), Tranopelta columbica (and its junior synonym Tranopelta albida), Tranopelta heyeri: Fernández, 2003H: 647.

Distribution:

Costa Rica to Brazil.

Biology:

Natural History:

Tranopelta gilva are pale, subterranean ants that are never seen foraging on the surface. In the field their general habitus is very similar to the formicine genus Acropyga. Very little is known of the biology. Workers are most often found under rocks in clay soil in lowland rainforest. They may also occur in Winkler and Berlese samples of leaf litter from the forest floor. In Costa Rica I have collected T. gilva at four sites: La Selva Biological Station, 500m elevation on the Barva Transect above La Selva, Hitoy Cerere Biological Reserve, and near Ciudad Neily in the southern Pacific lowlands. At La Selva I once observed a populous colony under the loose bark of a rotten log in primary forest. Knots of workers and uniformly-sized brood were in scattered piles, distributed across at least 2m of the log length.

Queens are very large, dramatically larger than the workers. Most queens are collected at lights.

Taxon Page Author History

Taxonomic Treatment (provided by Plazi)

Mayr, G., 1866:
Femina: Long. 8 - 10.5 mm. Nitida, ochraceoflava, mandibulis, capitis et thoracis parte superiore rufescentibus, alis subhyalinis, costis ochraceis, pterostigmate fusco; corporis pars superior copiose pilis adpressis flavis pubescens, caput et thorax sparse, abdomen pedesque copiose pilis abstantibus flavis pilosa; mandibulae laevigatae, praesertim ante apicem punctis fortibus impressis; clypeus nitidus antice subtiliter rugulosus et disperse punctulatus postice laevis; area frontalis nitidissima aut subtilissime longitudinaliter striolata aut laevis; frons, vertex et capitis latera punctulata; thorax punctulatus, mesonoti disco plus minusve laevigato; abdomen punctulatum et tenuissime rugulosum.
Mas: Long. 7 - 8 mm Pallide testaceo-flavus, vertice flavescente, mesonoto rufescente, alls subhyalinis, costis ochraceis; punctulatus, pilosus, sericeo-pubescens et parum nitens, abdomine nitido.
Aus Venezuela in meiner Sammlung von Herrn C. A. Dohrn, aus Brasilien im zoologischen Hofcabinete und ein Maennchen mit der Bezeichnung: " Myrmica gilva Klug, Columbien ", ebendaselbst.

Wild, A. L., 2007:
Alto Paraguay, Cordillera, “Paraguay” (s. loc.) (ALWC, INBP, MCZC, MHNG, NHMB, NHMW). Literature records: Cordillera, “Paraguay” (s. loc.) (Emery 1919, Fernández 2003b, Forel 1909 [as “ amblyops ”]).

Specimen Data Summary

Found most commonly in these habitats: 414 times found in mature wet forest, 63 times found in montane wet forest, 9 times found in tropical rainforest, 1 times found in Puesto #4,43G,10m., 1 times found in Puesto#1,84G, 10m, 1 times found in Puesto #1,29G,10m., 1 times found in Trampa4,101G. 10m., 1 times found in Puesto17,60G,10m., 1 times found in Puesto #03,333G,10m., 2 times found in SSA, ...

Collected most commonly using these methods or in the following microhabitats: 418 times MiniWinkler, 55 times Berlese, 61 times Mini Winkler, 12 times Winkler, 5 times search, 4 times MaxiWinkler, 3 times flight intercept trap, 3 times Pitfall, 2 times Search & Berles, 2 times Blacklight

Elevations: collected from 20 - 500 meters, 128 meters average