Strumigenys azteca

Strumigenys azteca
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Attini
Genus:	Strumigenys
Species:	S. azteca
Binomial name
	Strumigenys azteca; (Kempf, 1960) Specimen Labels

Known from dozens of collections, all from litter samples gathered from wet forest habitats.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the azteca-complex in the Strumigenys excisa-group. S. azteca is closely related to Strumigenys rogata and Strumigenys turpis but in azteca the outline of the cephalic dorsum in profile is a high dome and the anteroventral margin of the head in front of eye forms a high, narrowly arched concavity.

Keys including this Species

Key to Neotropical Strumigenys (as Pyramica)

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 18.775° to 14.8701686°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico (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.

azteca. Glamyromyrmex aztecus Kempf, 1960f: 444, figs. 22, 27, 28 (w.) MEXICO. Combination in Pyramica: Bolton, 1999: 1672; in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 116. See also: Bolton, 2000: 171.

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

Description

Worker

Bolton (2000) - TL 1.8-1.9, HL 0.46-0.50, HW 0.39-0.45, CI 85-90, ML 0.08-0.10, MI 17-20, SL 0.20-0.21, SI 45-51, PW 0.23-0.26, AL 0.46-0.50 (3 measured).

Head in profile with the dorsal surface forming a high even dome, the highest point at or just behind the level of the eye. Maximum depth of head in profile 0.68 X HW (0.60 X HL). Ventral surface of head deeply convex behind postbuccal groove, but more narrowly so than the dorsum. Anteroventral margin of head narrowly high-arched in front of the eye, the curvature of the arch filled in by a thin cuticular lamina. Dorsum and dorsolateral margins of head without standing or projecting hairs of any form. Pronotal humeral hair simple. Dorsolateral margins of pronotum with one other pair of standing hairs, margins of the mesonotum with two pairs. First gastral tergite with sparse short erect hairs that are apparently restricted to the dorsolateral margins. Dorsal alitrunk with faint traces of superficial sculpture. Basigastral costulae faint and scratch-like, almost effaced and indistinguishable from superficial shagreening. With gaster in profile outline of first sternite is convex to more or less flat, definitely not concave, from its deepest point almost to the base; outline only concave very near base, where it tends to be concealed by the overhanging tergite.

Type Material

Bolton (2000) - Holotype worker and paratype worker, MEXICO: Vera Cruz, Pueblo Nuevo, nr Tetzonapa, 7.iii.1953 (holotype) and 18.viii.1953 (paratype), Berlese funnel, rain forest (E. O. Wilson) (Museum of Comparative Zoology, Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao Paulo) [examined].

References

Baroni Urbani, C. & De Andrade, M.L. 2007. The ant tribe Dacetini: limits and constituent genera, with descriptions of new species. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale “G. Doria” 99: 1-191.
Bolton, B. 1999. Ant genera of the tribe Dacetonini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Natural History. 33:1639-1689. (page 1672, Combination in Pyramica)
Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 171, redescription of worker)
Kempf, W. W. 1960f. Miscellaneous studies on Neotropical ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Stud. Entomol. (n.s.) 3: 417-466. (page 444, figs. 2, 27, 28 worker described)
Kempf, W. W. 1972b. Catálogo abreviado das formigas da regia~o Neotropical. Stud. Entomol. 15: 3-344 (page 111, catalogue)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65
Dattilo W. et al. 2019. MEXICO ANTS: incidence and abundance along the Nearctic-Neotropical interface. Ecology https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2944
Fernandes, P.R. XXXX. Los hormigas del suelo en Mexico: Diversidad, distribucion e importancia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).
Fernández, F. and S. Sendoya. 2004. Lista de las hormigas neotropicales. Biota Colombiana Volume 5, Number 1.
Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
Longino J. T. L., and M. G. Branstetter. 2018. The truncated bell: an enigmatic but pervasive elevational diversity pattern in Middle American ants. Ecography 41: 1-12.
Longino J. et al. ADMAC project. Accessed on March 24th 2017 at https://sites.google.com/site/admacsite/
Mirmecofauna de la reserva ecologica de San Felipe Bacalar
Vásquez-Bolaños M. 2011. Lista de especies de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) para México. Dugesiana 18: 95-133