Key to Strumigenys nitens group

This worker key is based on: Booher, D.B., Prebus, M.M., Lubertazzi, D. 2019. A taxonomic revision of the Strumigenys nitens and simulans groups (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), two Caribbean radiations of leaf litter ants. Zootaxa. 4656:335-358. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4656.2.7

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• Strumigenys
• Strumigenys nitens group

1

• Basigastral costulae extending beyond the basal quarter of the first gastral tergite; Mandibles in full face view short, MI 23-30; Cuba . . . . . Strumigenys convexiceps

• Basigastral costulae not extending beyond the basal quarter of the first gastral tergite; Mandibles in full face view longer, MI 27-39 . . . . . 2

2

return to couplet #1

• Occipital lobes enlarged: lateral margins of head in full face view converging anteriorly; mandibles more compact, shorter than apical antennal segment, MI 27-32; petiolar node broad, roughly 2/3 times as wide as postpetiole in dorsal view. Hispaniola . . . . . Strumigenys zemi

• Occipital lobes not enlarged: lateral margins of head in full face view approximately parallel; mandibles elongate, about the length of the apical antennal segment, MI 31-39; petiolar node narrow, about half as wide as postpetiole in dorsal view. Bahamas, Cuba . . . . . 3

3

return to couplet #2

• Mandibles bearing six teeth, four arranged vertically at the apex of the mandible, and two along the inner mandibular margin (Fig. 2c); mandibles longer, MI 38-39; antennal scape shorter, SI 56-60; mesosoma more compact, WL 2.1-2.2x PW; eyes small, maximum compound eye length less than the width of the antennal scape; Cuba . . . . . Strumigenys caiman

• Mandibles bearing five teeth, two arranged vertically at the apex of the mandibles with two intercalary denticles between them, and three along the inner mandibular margin (Fig. 2b); mandibles shorter, MI 31-35; antennal scape longer, SI 61-74; mesosoma elongate, WL ~ 2.3x PW; eyes large: maximum compound eye length greater than the width of the antennal scape. Bahamas, Cuba . . . . . 4

4

return to couplet #3

• Head with two elongate simple to subflagellate scrobal setae, one at position of eye and one at apicoscrobal position; erect setae on humeral shoulders and mesosoma elongate to subflagellate; ground pilosity of dorsum of mesonotum elongate (larger than length of eye) simple to wavy decumbent setae that are not adpressed, larger species, WL 0.57-0.62mm; dark reddish brown to dark brown in color; Cuba . . . . . Strumigenys hubbewatyorum

• Head with one stiff to expanded scrobal seta at apicoscrobal position; erect setae on humeral shoulders and mesosoma stiff, slightly expanded to remiform; ground pilosity on dorsum of mesonotum mostly adpressed expanded setae that are shorter than the length of eye; smaller species, WL 0.44-0.56mm; light yellowish brown to light reddish brown in color. Bahamas, Cuba . . . . . Strumigenys nitens

Strumigenys nitens