Strumigenys decipula

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

Nothing is known about the biology of Strumigenys decipula.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the gundlachi complex in the Strumigenys gundlachi group. Very closely related to Strumigenys subedentata (see there) but immediately differentiated by its lack of standing hairs on the dorsal alitrunk, very broad scape and smaller eyes.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Neotropical Strumigenys (as Pyramica)

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -0.631944444° to -3.10194°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Brazil (type locality), Colombia, Ecuador, Peru.

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. ‎

Nomenclature

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

• decipula. Pyramica decipula Bolton, 2000: 183 (w.) BRAZIL. Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 118

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 2.1, HL 0.57, HW 0.48, CI 84, ML 0.25, MI 44, SL 0.22, SI 46, PW 0.32, AL 0.56. Characters of gundlachi complex. Inner margins of mandibles strongly convex in full-face view, at full closure touching at about the midlength and diverging both proximally and distally. Apex of mandible with 2 minute intercalary denticles between apicodorsal and apicoventral teeth. Preapical denticles restricted to distal third or less of mandible, 4 - 5 in n umber and minute; distal most denticle the largest, located very close to the apicodorsal tooth and separated from the remaining 3 - 4 denticles by a short diastema. Scape short and very broad, its anterior margin expanded forward into a large convex lobe; SL only 2.75 X the maximum scape width. Eye small, with only 3 ommatidia in the longest row. Apicoscrobal hair short. Pronotal humeral hair short, very broad, flat and leaf-like. Dorsal surfaces of head and alitrunk with dense short spatulate ground-pilosity that is decumbent to appressed, but without standing hairs of any form.

PARATYPE. TL 2.1-2.2, HL 0.56-0.58, HW 0.48-0.49, CI 83-88, ML 0.24 - 0.26, MI 43-45, SL 0.22-0.26, SI 46-54, PW 0.31-0.34, AL 0.56 - 0.58 (8 measured).

Type Material

Holotype worker, Brazil: Amazonas, Manaus, Colosso, 27.i.1994, #106 (R. Didham) (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia).

Paratypes. 2 workers with same data as holotype; 6 workers with same data but 9.iii.1994, #380 (The Natural History Museum, Museum of Comparative Zoology, University of California, Davis).

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. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 183, worker described)
• Guerrero, R.J., Fernandez, F., Escarraga, M.E., Perez-Pedraza, L.F., Serna, F., Mackay, M.P., Sandoval, V., Vergara, V., Suarez, D., Garcia, E.I., Sanchez, A., Meneses, A.D., Tocora, M.C., Sosa-Calvo, J. 2018. New records of myrmicine ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) for Colombia. Revista Colombiana de Entomología 44: 238-259 (DOI 10.25100/socolen.v44i2.7115).
• [[Media:Silva, T.S.R.D., Chaul, J.C.M. et al. 2022. Lectotype designation and redescription of four commonly collected Neotropical species of Strumigenys (10.5852@ejt.2022.798.1673).pdf|Silva, T.S.R.D., Chaul, J.C.M., Feitosa, R.M. 2022. Lectotype designation and redescription of four commonly collected Neotropical species of Strumigenys (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). European Journal of Taxonomy, 798(1), 103–126 (Template:Doi.org).]]

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Bezdeckova K., P. Bedecka, and I. Machar. 2015. A checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Peru. Zootaxa 4020 (1): 101–133.
• Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65
• Fernández, F. and S. Sendoya. 2004. Lista de las hormigas neotropicales. Biota Colombiana Volume 5, Number 1.