Strumigenys mendezi

The morphologies of Strumigenys mendezi and Strumigenys arizonica are strikingly similar at first glance and both occur in Arizona, however they are ecologically dissimilar. Strumigenys arizonica is an obligate nest inhabitant of Trachymyrmex arizonensis where it benefits from the climate-controlled refuse chambers of their host and preys on Collembola associated with their host’s refuse (Gray al. 2018). Strumigenys mendezi appears to be a freely living ant species, not obligately associated with T. arizonensis or any other ants according to the collector Stefan Cover who discovered this species. He collected S. mendezi in a dense gray oak, juniper, emory oak woodland with vegetation height approximately 7.5 m, on a gentle southeastern facing slope. Individuals were collected by sifting litter under an oak stump in shade. I tentatively identify an alate queen as S. mendezi, based on images (BugGuide 2020b) (collection data: September 26, 2019, by Gary Alpert and Mark Szydlo 16 km southeast of Flagstaff in Walnut Canyon National Monument, Coconino County, Arizona, USA, 26 September 2019, Gary Alpert and Mark Szydlo). (Booher, 2021)

Identification
Strumigenys mendezi is morphologically most similar to Strumigenys arizonica (sharing similar dentition, sculpturing, and most characters of pilosity) but can be most easily distinguished from S. arizonica by lack of flagellate pronotal humeral setae.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Nearctic Region: United States.

Nomenclature

 * . Strumigenys mendezi Booher, 2021: 234, fig. 40 (w.) UNITED STATES.

Type Material

 * Holotype worker USA, Arizona, Cochise County, Chiricahua Mountains at the Jct. of Basin Trail #247 & Forest Service Road 42, 31°53.94’N 109°14.27°W, 13 August 2009, 1890 m, Collector S. P. Cover, collection number 81600 (unique specimen identifier MCZ-ENT00584721) [MCZC].
 * Paratype workers 2 workers, same collection as type (unique specimen identifier MCZ-ENT00584719, MCZENT00584720) [MCZC].