Strumigenys deletrix

Strumigenys deletrix
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Attini
Genus:	Strumigenys
Species:	S. deletrix
Binomial name
	Strumigenys deletrix; Bolton, 2000 Specimen Labels

The type was found in a lowland rainforest litter sample.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the cordovensis complex in the Strumigenys mandibularis-group. Although very close to Strumigenys cordovensis the development of the two characters given above is considered sufficient to isolate deletrix as a separate species. In all material of cordovensis examined an apicoscrobal hair is present and the humeral hair is stiffly erect and very conspicuous.

Longino (Ants of Costa Rica) - Apical fork of mandible with a single intercalary tooth; mandible with two conspicuous preapical teeth; mandible extremely long, longer than head; gaster smooth and shiny; specialized humeral hair short, broadly spatulate, curved posteriorly and closely applied to the surface; dorsolateral margin of the head close to the apex of the scrobe without stiff projecting hair.

Keys including this Species

Key to Neotropical and Nearctic Strumigenys

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 8.758333333° to -3.083333°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Costa Rica (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.

Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.

Biology

Explore Overview of Strumigenys biology

Strumigenys were once thought to be rare. The development and increased use of litter sampling methods has led to the discovery of a tremendous diversity of species. Many species are specialized predators (e.g. see Strumigenys membranifera and Strumigenys louisianae). Collembola (springtails) and other tiny soil arthropods are typically favored prey. Species with long linear mandibles employ trap-jaws to sieze their stalked prey (see Dacetine trap-jaws). Larvae feed directly on insect prey brought to them by workers. Trophallaxis is rarely practiced. Most species live in the soil, leaf litter, decaying wood or opportunistically move into inhabitable cavities on or under the soil. Colonies are small, typically less than 100 individuals but in some species many hundreds. Moist warm habitats and micro-habitats are preferred. A few better known tramp and otherwise widely ranging species tolerate drier conditions. Foraging is often in the leaf litter and humus. Workers of many species rarely venture above ground or into exposed, open areas. Individuals are typically small, slow moving and cryptic in coloration. When disturbed individuals freeze and remain motionless. Males are not known for a large majority of species.

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Castes

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

deletrix. Strumigenys deletrix Bolton, 2000: 533 (w.) COSTA RICA.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Holotype. TL 3.5, HL 0.76, HW 0.59, CI 78, ML 0.83, MI 109, SL 0.60, SI 102, PW 0.36, AL 0.74. Closely related to cordovensis and answering the description of that species, but differing as follows.

1 Pronotal humeral hair short and spatulate, scarcely longer than the pronotal ground pilosity, curved posteromedially and closely applied to the surface rather than erect.

2 Apicoscrobal hair absent.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Costa Rica: Puntarenas Prov., 19 km. S Ciudad Neily, 8°29'N, 82°58'W, 20 m., 26.iii.1990, wet forest, ex sifted leaf litter, #2658-s (J. Longino) (The Natural History Museum).

Paratypes. 2 workers with same data as holotype (Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad, Museum of Comparative Zoology).

References

Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-108.