Strumigenys emiliae

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys schulzi-group. The dentition developed in emiliae is shared only with Strumigenys urrhobia and is usually quite easy to see even when the mandibles are fully closed. In particular the three stout basal teeth and plate-like fourth tooth are usually distinct. The fourth tooth tends to reflect light and be visible with usual forms of illumination. The two species are easily separated as urrhobia has a very conspicuous transverse row of erect hairs on the vertex that are obviously distinct from the ground-pilosity, and has an elongate more or less straigilt pronotal humeral hair.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil, Paraguay.

Nomenclature

 *  emiliae. Strumigenys emiliae Forel, 1907a: 11 (w.) PARAGUAY. Combination in S. (Cephaloxys): Emery, 1924d: 325; in Smithistruma: Brown, 1953g: 104; in Pyramica: Bolton, 1999: 1673; in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 119. Senior synonym of alegrensis: Brown, 1964a: 193. See also: Bolton, 2000: 219.
 * alegrensis. Smithistruma (Smithistruma) alegrensis Brown, 1953g: 103, pl. 2, fig. 22 (w.) BRAZIL. Junior synonym of emiliae: Brown, 1964a: 193.

Worker
Bolton (2000) - TL 1.9-2.0, HL 0.50-0.52, HW 0.40-0.42, CI 76-81, ML 0.09-0.11, MI 18-22, SL 0.23-0.25, SI 60-62, PW 0.25-0.28, AL 0.47-0.54 (4 measured).

Dentition as described above. Anterior clypeal margin evenly shallowly convex. Scape slender, not strongly dorsoventrally flattened, the anterior margin not broadly arched; in dorsal view widest distal of the midlength but without much variation in width after the subbasal bend. Eye with 5 ommatidia in the longest row. Dorsum of head with conspicuous curved spoon-shaped ground-pilosity, without a transverse row of erect hairs behind the highest point of the vertex. Dorsolateral margin of head in full-face view fringed with anteriorly curved spoon-shaped hairs, without a distinctly differentiated apicoscrobal hair. Pronotal humerus without a strongly differentiated hair but with a curved spatulate hair that is somewhat larger and better developed than the pronotal ground-pilosity. Dorsum and sides of alitrunk uniformly finely reticulate-punctate. Ventral surface of petiole with a narrow cuticular carina but without a spongiform curtai n. Spongiform lobes present laterally on petiole node and postpetiole, and ventral lobes present on the latter; base of first gastral sternite in profile with a narrow spongiform pad. Petiole node in dorsal view broader than long and feebly reticulate-punctate. Disc of postpetiole not punctate but not entirely smooth, the surface dully shining and with feeble granulate or striolate sculpture. Basigastral costulae short but sharply defined, the sclerite behind the costulae smooth and with numerous suberect elongate spatulate hairs that are inclined posteriorly.

Type Material
Holotype worker, PARAGUAY: Assuncion, 1904 (Vezenyi) [examined].