Pyramica erikae, John T. LONGINO, 2006

John T. LONGINO, 2006, New species and nomenclatural changes for the Costa Rican ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Myrmecologische Nachrichten 8, pp. 131-143 : 141

Pyramica erikae sp.n. ( Figs. 25 - 27)

Holotype worker: Costa Rica: Heredia Prov., 16 km SSE La Virgen (10° 16' N, 84° 05' W), 1100 m elevation, 14. III.2001, leg. Project ALAS 11/WF/02/01, specimen code INB0003214077 ( INBC).

Paratype: 1 worker, same data as holotype but 20.II. 2001, leg. Project ALAS 11/WF/01/15, INB0003213718 ( MCZC) .

Diagnosis of worker: Mandible short and curving downward in profile; lateral head capsule with antennal scrobe mostly or entirely smooth and shining; propodeal spines present (former Glamyromyrmex ); leading edge of scape lacking erect setae; disc of postpetiole in dorsal view very broadly U-shaped, with an extremely deeply concave anterior face; spongiform tissue absent from ventral surface of petiole, postpetiole and first gastral sternite; lateral margins of head and posterior face near vertex margin, promesonotum, petiolar node, postpetiole, and gastral dorsum with sparse erect setae; head in side view convex above and below, not flattened; mesosoma strongly ankylosed, dorsal face of propodeum absent, posterior face forming long flat shiny surface that meets promesonotal dorsum at a sharp transverse carina.

Measurements of holotype: ML 0.124, HL 0.561, HW 0.532, HD 0.296, MeL 0.484.

Comments: In BOLTON' s (2000: 148) key to Neotropical Pyramica , this species keys to P. rogata , but the strongly ankylosed mesosoma is unique and immediately distinguishes this species from any other of the Glamyromyrmex - like Pyramica .

Etymology: Named for my daughter Erika Jane Longino.

Range: Costa Rica.

Biology: This species occurs in mature cloud forest. It is known from two workers from two different Winkler samples of sifted litter from the forest floor.