Strumigenys schulzi Emery, 1894

dos Santos-Neto, Esperidião Alves, Chaul, Júlio Cezar Mário & Delabie, Jacques Hubert Charles, 2024, New Species and New Records of Strumigenys Smith, 1860 (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) from the Neotropical schulzi Species Group, Taxonomy (New York) 4 (3), pp. 633-648 : 640-641

Strumigenys schulzi Emery, 1894 [ 27]

( Figure 4 )

Geographical Distribution. From southern Mexico to southern Brazil.

Material examined: BRAZIL, Acre, Porto Walter, 8.270.158, − 72.740.791, 19.iii.1997, on Epipedobates diet, (J. Cadwell) [one worker] . Bahia, São José da Vitória, − 15.061.667, Puaias, − 39.344.167, 22.v.2000, (J.R. Maia dos Santos) [one worker] . Uruçuca, Serra Grande, − 14.445.833, − 39.045.556, Pasto, (J.R. Maia dos Santos) [one worker], ( CPDC 5651) . Ceará, Guaramiranga, − 4.266.667, − 38.933.333, 28.ii.2002, ± 900 m (Yves Quinet) [one worker] . − 4.266.667, − 38.933.333, 21.vii.2002, ± 900 m (Y. Quinet) [one worker] . Maranhão, São Luís, − 2.604.264, − 44.250.581, 12.ix.2014, (J. A. Silva) [one worker, CPDC 5790] . PANAMA, Colon Province, São Lourenzo Forest, 9.240861, − 79.985667, 15.x.2003, (N. Winchester and K. Jordan) [one worker] . TRINIDAD, Aripo Heights, Semi Forest litter, 14.iv.1972 (B.R. Pitkin) [1 worker] [ANTWEB-CASENT0281996] .

Diagnosis. Basal lamella of mandible triangular, without diastema between it and masticatory margin; eyes large, with 20 or more ommatidia in total; strongly dorsoventrally compressed scapes; pronotal humeral and apicoscrobal setae short and stout hair; pilosity narrowly remiform, ground pilosity of spatulate hairs; petiole and postpetiole entirely reticulate-punctate in dorsal view, with basigastral costulae shorter than a third of postpetiole disc length.

Comments. The examined specimens from different localities, including the type material [ 28], showed variation. The main differences observed were in specimens collected in the Atlantic Forest of Southern Bahia, Brazil, in the municipality of Una, which have a significant portion of the lower mesopleuron smooth ( Figure 3 B ), thicker and apically slightly remiform gaster pilosity ( Figure 4 B ), differences in pilosity on the cephalic dorsum ( Figure 4 A ) and slightly shorter petiolar node in lateral view ( Figure 4 B ). The specimen, compared to the type, is more similar to the other examined material and has a sculptures lower mesopleuron, slightly thinner gastral pilosity, cephalic pilosity thicker ( Figure 4 D ) and longer petiolar node in lateral view.

Although a reasonable number of specimens have been collected since Bolton’s revision [ 4] and mainly since Brown’s work [ 12], it remains hard to decide whether Strumigenys schulzi is a complex of various cryptic species or a single species that shows variation across its wide distribution. This challenge arises because, despite being a widely distributed and extensively collected species, the samples consist primarily of single individuals, making it difficult to study possible intra-populational variations.

Figures

Figure 3. Strumigenys orchibia, specimen collected in Atlantic Forest, head in full face view (A), lateral view (B). Paratype [BMNH1013599]. from the Amazon region, head in full-face view (C), lateral view (D). Scale bars are 0.2 mm.. Available at AntWeb.org.

Figure 4. Strumigenys schulzi specimens; head in full face view(A), Lateral view (B)., specimen collected in Una, Bahia, Brazil. Head in full-face view (C). Lateral view (D)., specimen collected in Trinidad. [CASENT0281996]. Scale bars are 0.2 mm.. Available at AntWeb.org.