Strumigenys smilax

Identification
Bolton (2000) - The only member of the Strumigenys smilax-group. S. smilax is immediately diagnosed by its dentition, extremely long and strongly developed preocular carina, long narrow petiole node, strangely carinate pronotum and proximally placed femoral gland bulla.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil.

Nomenclature

 *  smilax. Strumigenys smilax Bolton, 2000: 562, figs. 330, 350, 352 (w.) BRAZIL.

Worker
Holotype. TL 3.1, HL 0.75, HW 0.50, CI 67, ML 0.52, MI 69, SL 0.56, SI 112, PW 0.32, AL 0.82. Mandible with proximal preapical tooth just over half the length of the distal. Upper scrobe margin with a narrow but conspicuous cuticular flange, its width about one third the maximum width of the scape. Eye very reduced, of 5-6 small ommatidia. Very long preocular carina divides scrobe into upper and lower compartments throughout its length. Ground-pilosity of head and alitrunk narrowly spoon-shaped and conspicuous; with alitrunk in dorsal view an arched row of anteromedially directed spoon-shaped hairs extends along the promesonotal junction, and a posteriorly directed row extends along each dorsolateral propodeal margin. Apicoscrobal hair stiff and simple; a pair of similar hairs present on vertex close to occipital margin. Pronotal humeral hair stiff and simple; a similar but shorter pair present on mesonotum. Waist segments and first gastral tergite with suberect to erect short stout remiform hairs. Pronotum marginate anteriorly; in profile the margination extends obliquely down side of sclerite as a coarse carina that terminates above the front coxa close to the posterolateral angle of the pronotum. Metanotal groove narrowly and deeply impressed. Pleurae and side of propodeum finely reticulate-punctate everywhere. Bullae of femoral glands proximal of midlength on dorsal surfaces of middle and hind femora. Petiole in profile with dorsal length of node much greater than height of anterior face of node. In dorsal view petiole node much longer than broad and lacking a posterior spongiform collar although a narrow cuticular carina is present. Disc of postpetiole superficially sculptured, with a narrow spongiform anterior collar. Basigastral costulae sparse and widely spaced; first gastral tergite finely superficially shagreenate.

The non-paratypic material consists of a single damaged worker. It has dimensions TL 2.9, HL 0.67, HW 0.45, CI 67, ML 0.47, MI 70, SL 0.50, SI 111, PW 0.30, AL 0.76. Eye even smaller than in holotype, of a single ommatidium. Hairs on first gastral tergite simple to feebly remiform and usually blunt or truncated apically, not as stout or obviously remiform as in holotype.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Brazil: Goias, Niquelandia, 18-30.v.1996, 14°17'06"S, 48°55'01"W, Peneira Rio do Peixe (Silvestre, Silva & Brandao).