Strumigenys rostrata Emery, 1895

Booher, Douglas B., 2021, The ant genus Strumigenys Smith, 1860 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in western North America North of Mexico, Zootaxa 5061 (2), pp. 201-248 : 241

Strumigenys rostrata Emery, 1895

Distribution. USA; in eastern USA from Florida to New York and west to Missouri; in western USA occurs in Texas.

Comments. Strumigenys rostrata is a common eastern species associated with mesic temperate forests and often found in cavities under bark of fallen branches, tree stumps, and empty nuts (Duffield and Alpert 2012; Booher et al. 2017). Strumigenys rostrata ranges from Florida to New York and becomes less commonly encountered in states at the western edge of its range, Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas. It has only been collected a handful of times in these states and collected most frequently in those states in dense thickets and forested stands. Strumigenys rostrata is often found with other ants ( Wesson and Wesson 1939). However, this is probably not due to any biotic symbiosis, but due to the fact many species opportunistically nest in woody and litter debris on the ground. Likely a polydomous species, S. rostrata is a polygynous species forming compound nests (unpublished data).

Material examined: USA, Texas, Polk Co., Big Thicket Nature Preserve , 30.473533, -94.346036, 25 m, 12 May 1988, litter, 1 worker, coll. R. Anderson, [ TAMUIC] ; USA, Texas, Sabine Co., 9 miles east of Hemphill , 31.341042, -93.692656, 76 m, 24 Apr 1989, Berlese, Neotoma nest inside Magnolia trunk in Beech Bottom, 2 workers, coll. R. Anderson & E. Riley, [ DBBC] ; USA, Texas, Sabine Co., Hemphill , 31.327373, -93.84642, 90 m, 25 Jul 1989, Berlese, Beech Bottom, Magnolia trunk, 1dealate queen & 1 worker, coll. R. Anderson & E. Riley, [ TAMUIC] ; USA, Texas, Sabine Co., 14.5 Kilometers east of Hemphill , 31.356189, -93.684559, 56 m, 11 May 1988, litter, 1dealate queen & 1 worker, coll. R. Anderson, 12763, [ TAMUIC] ; USA, Texas, Tyler Co., Spurger , 30.691203, -94.17743, 51 m, 24 Apr 1988, ex. litter, 1 worker, coll. R. Anderson, #12761, [ TAMUIC] ; USA, Texas, Tyler Co., Big Thicket Nature Preserve , 30.473533, -94.346036, 25 m, 8 Mar 1989, litter, 1 worker, coll. R. Anderson, #12757, [ TAMUIC] .