Strumigenys monstra

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

Nothing is known about the biology of Strumigenys monstra.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the cordovensis complex in the Strumigenys mandibularis-group. This long-mandibulate species is the most densely hairy in the cordovensis-complex. Not only do the head and alitrunk have more stiff standing hairs than is usual, but the first gastral tergite has long fine hairs arising all over its surface rather than being restricted to the basal third or so of the sclerite. This last is also seen in Strumigenys sublonga but here the mandibles are much shorter, the head has fewer standing hairs and the basigastral costulae are much longer.

Keys including this Species

Key to Neotropical and Nearctic Strumigenys

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Colombia (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.

monstra. Strumigenys monstra Bolton, 2000: 536 (w.) COLOMBIA.

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 3.4, HL 0.76, HW 0.57, CI 75, ML 0.96, MI 126, SL 0.64, SI 112, PW 0.36, AL 0.74. Characters of cordovensis-complex. Distal preapical tooth very long and narrowly spiniform, much closer to apicodorsal tooth than to proximal preapical tooth. With mandible in profile distal preapical tooth strongly elevated; mandible distinctly upcurved from close to midlength to level of distal preapical tooth, thereafter flexed weakly downward to the apical fork. Standing hairs on head and alitrunk stiff, simple or narrowly remiform apically: two on dorsolateral margin of head, the first just behind level of eye and the second apicoscrobal; two pairs on vertex, one at about highest point, the other close to occipital margin; one at pronotal humerus; a pair on mesonotum. Petiole, postpetiole and entire surface of first gastral tergite with fine curved filiform to subflagellate hairs. Bullae of femoral glands longer than broad but not streak-like, located at or proximal of the dorsal midlength on the middle and hind femora. Propodeal lamella with a minute upper lobe and larger triangular lower lobe. Lateral spongiform lobe of petiole small, not extended forward on side to level of anterior face of node. Petiole node reticulate-punctate, about as long as broad in dorsal view. Disc of postpetiole medially with longitudinal costulae on anterior third; toward sides of disc the costulae longer. Basigastral costulae sharply defined but very short, no longer than width of posterior spongiform collar of postpetiole.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Colombia: Putumayo, Villa Garzon, 25.vii.1977 (D. Jackson) (The Natural History Museum).

References

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

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Silva T. S. R., and R. M. Feitosa. 2019. Using controlled vocabularies in anatomical terminology: A case study with Strumigenys (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Arthropod Structure and Development 52: 1-26.