Strumigenys cloydi

Only known from a few collections, including one from a bayhead and another from a hardwood bottom forest.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys ornata-group. Of the three species in this group cloydi is isolated by its clypeal pilosity, described above. It differs from Strumigenys dietrichi and Strumigenys ornata in lacking a fan-like array of long hairs apicodorsally on the clypeus. P. cloydi also lacks the long, elevated wire-like mid-clypeal hairs characteristic of those two species, and apparently only ever has a single pair of flagellate hairs on the dorsolateral margin of the head, whilst two pairs are present in both ornata and dietrichi.

Most specimens examined have all hairs on the leading edge of the scape curved toward the scape apex, but some have 1-2 curved toward the scape base. Because material of this species is restricted to the type-series, and that has been poorly mounted, I am unable to tell if this is normal variation or the result of hairs having been displaced during mounting. For this reason cloydi is run out twice in the key.

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



Nomenclature

 *  cloydi. Smithistruma cloydi Pfitzer, 1951: 198, figs. (w.) U.S.A. Combination in Pyramica: Bolton, 1999: 1673; in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 117. See also: Bolton, 2000: 111.

Worker
Bolton (2000) - TL 2.0-2.1, HL 0.56-0.60, HW 0.36-0.38, CI 60-64, ML 0.07-0.09, MI 13-16, SL 0.28-0.30, SI 79-83, PW 0.23-0.26, AL 0.54-0.60 (6 measured).

Fully closed mandibles with a gap between basal tooth and anterior clypeal margin that is longer than the length of the basal tooth. In full-face view clypeus longer than broad, its extreme anterior margin, between the lines of the inner mandibular margins, varying from extremely weakly concave to extremely weakly convex. Hairs that project from clypeal margins elongate and stout, weakly thickened apically and characteristically arranged: pair of hairs nearest midline on anterior margin curved strongly away from midline; next pair longer, on curve of anterolateral comers, directed outwards and usually shallowly curved posteriorly; third pair, close to midlength of side, directed outwards and usually inclined or weakly curved anteriorly (with feeble posterior curve in one worker); fourth pair close to j unction with preocular lamina, shorter and curved anteriorly. Dorsum of clypeus with short elevated spatulate hairs that are curved lateral l y or posteriorly; in profile the curvature distinct. Long flagellate hairs arranged as follows: in apicoscrobal position; a pair on cephalic dorsum close to occipital margin; at pronotal humeri; a pair on pronotal dorsum and another on mesonotum. Flagellate hairs also occur on first gastral tergite and dorsal (outer) surfaces of hind tibia and basitarsus.

Type Material
Bolton (2000) - Holotype worker and paratype workers, U. S. A.: Tennessee, Knoxville, 15.viii.1950 (Cloyd & Pjitzer) [examined].