Strumigenys interfectiva

Strumigenys interfectiva
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Attini
Genus:	Strumigenys
Species:	S. interfectiva
Binomial name
	Strumigenys interfectiva; Lattke & Goitía, 1997 Specimen labels

Known from a cloud forest and plantain planting.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys marginiventris-group. This recently described species is best diagnosed by its postpetiolar and gastral sculpture, coupled with its arrangement of hairs and lack of dorsolateral gastral margination.

Keys including this Species

Key to Neotropical and Nearctic Strumigenys

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 10.35944444° to -16.975°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela (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.

interfectiva. Strumigenys interfectiva Lattke & Goitía, 1997: 386, fig. 36 (w.) VENEZUELA. See also: Bolton, 2000: 541.

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 3.1-3.3, HL 0.87-0.90, HW 0.69-0.70, CI 78-80, ML 0.74-0.82, MI 82-88, SL 0.74-0.76, SI 106-110, PW 0.38-0.42, AL 0.86-0.90 (4 measured).

Cephalic dorsum with a single pair of slender erect simple hairs, close to the occipital margin. Flagellate hairs present: in apicoscrobal position; at pronotal humerus; a pair on mesonotum; a few on waist segments; numerous on first gastral tergite. Ventral spongiform strip on petiole narrow, sometimes broken or partially absent. Mesopleuron partially to mostly smooth, metapleuron and side of propodeum reticulate-punctate. Propodeal spines slender and narrowly triangular, subtended by a narrow carina. Petiole node slightly longer than broad in dorsal view. Disc of postpetiole with longitudinal costulae across its entire width. First gastral tergite finely and densely longitudinally striolate-costulate, the sculpture extending almost the entire length of the segment or fading out in the posterior quarter.

Type Material

Bolton (2000) - Holotype worker, VENEZUELA: Edo. Aragua, Lorna de Hierro, 10°10'N, 67°08'W, 5 km. SE La Victoria, 1400 m., 16.xi.1994 (J. Lattke) (Instituto de Zoologia Agricola) [examined].

References

Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028.
Lattke, J.; Goitía, W. 1997. El género Strumigenys (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) en Venezuela. Caldasia 19: 367-396 (page 386, fig. 36 worker described)

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.
Lattke J. E., and M. A Riera-Valera. 2012. Diversidad de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) en la hojarasca y suelo de selvas nubladas de la Cordillera de la Costa, Venezuela. Métodos en Ecología y Sistemática 7(1): 20-34.
Rodriguez E. R., and J. E. Lattke. 2012. Diversidad de hormigas en un gradiente altitudinal de la cordillera de la Costa, Venezuela. Boletín de la Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa (S.E.A.) 50: 295?304.