Strumigenys insolita

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

Nothing is known about the biology of Strumigenys insolita.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys silvestrii-group. This minute species is immediately identified by its unique pilosity. No other species known in the group has fine simple stubbly ground-pilosity on the head and promesonotum that is suberect to erect. Coupled with this the lack of propodeal teeth, flat first gastral tergite and lack of elongate hairs on the head and alitrunk render insolita easily recognisable.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Neotropical and Nearctic Strumigenys

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -22.809943° to -22.809943°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Argentina, Paraguay (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. ‎

Nomenclature

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

• insolita. Strumigenys insolita Bolton, 2000: 554 (w.) PARAGUAY.

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 1.7, HL 0.40, HW 0.34, CI 85, ML 0.26, MI 65, SL 0.28, SI 82, PW 0.22, AL 0.42. Mandible with a spiniform preapical tooth and a minute denticle, the latter located just proximal of the midlength. Preapical tooth remote from apex separated from apicodorsal tooth by a distance greater than its length. Scape with an obtuse but marked subbasal bend, the hairs on the leading edge slender and the longest of them about as long as the maximum width of the scape. Hairs that fringe upper scrobe margins short, fine and simple, only very shallowly anteriorly curved. Apicoscrobal hair not strongly differentiated from other hairs on margin, only slightly longer. Cephalic dorsum with short stubbly ground-pilosity of fine simple hairs that are erect or suberect; without a longer specialised pair of hairs close to occipital margin. Pronotal humeral hair simple and fine, scarcely longer than the stubbly suberect to erect simple ground-pilosity of the promesonotum; mesonotum without a pair of elongate standing hairs. Pleurae and side of propodeum smooth. Propodeum with a very short lamella on declivity that is weakly angulate at top and bottom, but without propodeal teeth. Petiole in profile without spongiform tissue ventrally; node long and low, its dorsal length greater than the height of its anterior face. In dorsal view petiole node slightly broader than long, with large prominent lateral spongiform lobes. Disc of postpetiole flat, much broader than long, smooth medially but with faint sculpture toward the sides. Gaster in profile with dorsal outline of first tergite flat to very shallowly concave; outline of first stemite deeply convex. Pilosity of first gastral tergite elongate, fine and simple, curved to weakly flexuous but not flagellate. Basigastral costulae in dorsal view only slightly longer than disc of postpetiole.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Paraguay: Central, Asuncion, 4.x.1979 (P. Vaucher) (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève).

Paratype. I worker with same data as holotype (The Natural History Museum).

References

• Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Fernández, F. and S. Sendoya. 2004. Lista de las hormigas neotropicales. Biota Colombiana Volume 5, Number 1.
• Wild, A. L. "A catalogue of the ants of Paraguay (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)." Zootaxa 1622 (2007): 1-55.