Strumigenys cordovensis

In Costa Rica this species occurs in dry and wet forest habitats. It inhabits forest floor leaf litter (Longino, Ants of Costa Rica). This is well collected species and, at least throughout the Central American portion of its range, is a common, abundant ant.

Identification
A member of the cordovensis complex in the Strumigenys mandibularis-group.

Longino (Ants of Costa Rica) - Apical fork of mandible with a single intercalary tooth; mandible with two conspicuous preapical teeth; mandible extremely long, longer than head; gaster smooth and shiny; specialised humeral hair stiff and freely projecting, approx. straight or nearly so, simple or slightly expanded apically (lacking in deletrix); dorsolateral margin of the head close to the apex of the scrobe with stiff projecting hair present (lacking in deletrix).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela.

Nomenclature

 *  cordovensis. Strumigenys cordovensis Mayr, 1887: 573 (w.) MEXICO. Senior synonym of mokensis: Bolton, 2000: 531. See also: Brown, 1958c: 218.
 * mokensis. Strumigenys cordovensis var. mokensis Forel, 1905b: 158 (w.) VENEZUELA. Raised to species: Brown, 1958c: 221. Junior synonym of cordovensis: Bolton, 2000: 531.

Worker
Bolton (2000) - TL 3.5-4.0, HL 0.76-0.84, HW 0.58-0.65, CI 76-79, ML 0.84-0.98, MI 97-117, SL 0.56-0.70, SI 97-107, PW 0.36-0.43, AL 0.74-0.86 (25 measured).

Characters of cordovensis-complex. Distal preapical tooth of mandible closer to apicodorsal tooth than to proximal preapical tooth. In full-face view outer margins of mandibles diverge anteriorly, sides of head behind eyes diverge posteriorly. Standing hairs on head and alitrunk narrowly remiform, distributed thus: one in apicoscrobal position; a pair on vertex close to occiput; one at pronotal humerus; absent from mesonotum. Petiole and postpetiole with slender posteriorly curved simple hairs. First gastral tergite with long fine filiform to flagellate hairs that are restricted to basal quarter to third of sclerite, sometimes only a single row close to base. Bullae of femoral glands elongate and narrow, located at or proximal of the dorsal midlength on the middle and hind femora. Propodeal lobes variably developed but the lower usually longer than the upper, the latter sometimes poorly developed. Lateral spongiform lobe of petiole node well developed, extends forward along the side to, or almost to, the level of the anterior face of the node. Costulae on disc of postpetiole variably developed; usually short, at maximum spanning half the length of the disc, but sometimes longer and traversing entire disc. In some samples the costulae extremely short and restricted to anterior margin of disc. Basigastral costulae shorter than maximum length of postpetiole disc, generally equal to or slightly longer than width of posterior spongiform collar of postpetiole.

MISC The variation in critical dimensions such as MI and SI, coupled with variation in extent of costulate sculpture and gastral pilosity, makes me suspect that more than a single species could be present here. There is not yet enough material of the variant forms to make a definitive analysis.

Type Material
Bolton (2000) - Syntype workers, MEXICO: Cordova [examined].

The holotype of Strumigenys mokensis was found, preserved in alcohol since its collection, at by Dr. N. P. Kristensen. It had suffered some deterioration through being in alcohol for so long; it is now displayed on a standard card-point mount.