Strumigenys perdita

This species occurs in lowland wet forest, in leaf litter on the forest floor (Longino, Ants of Costa Rica).

Identification
A member of the Strumigenys silvestrii-group.

Bolton (2000) - S. perdita is closely related to three other Central American species, Strumigenys nastata, Strumigenys calamita and Strumigenys timicala; see notes under the first two of these.

Longino (Ants of Costa Rica) - Mandible somewhat bowed; apical fork of mandible without intercalary tooth; mandible with long, spiniform preapical tooth about one quarter distance from apical fork to mandible base; minute denticle variably present one half to two thirds distance to mandible base; eyes composed of 1-4 facets; gaster smooth with strong basal costulae; gaster with erect setae filiform to weakly thickened; leading edge of scape at the subbasal bend lacks a lamella; spiniform preapical tooth of mandible occurs closer to the apicodorsal tooth than to the proximal denticle.

This species is extremely similar to Strumigenys calamita, differing primarily in the filiform (perdita) rather than spatulate (calamita) setae on the gaster, and to Strumigenys nastata'', differing in the lack of a lamella on the scape, and the preapical tooth character described above.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Costa Rica, Honduras.

Nomenclature

 *  perdita. Strumigenys perdita Bolton, 2000: 556, figs. 327, 349 (w.) COSTA RICA.

Worker
Bolton (2000) - Holotype. TL 1.9, HL 0.48, HW 0.36, CI 75, ML 0.28, MI 58, SL 0.30, SI 83, PW 0.23, AL 0.48. Preapical tooth of mandible separated from apicodorsal by a distance about equal to its length; a small preapical denticle also present, just proximal of mandibular midlength. The spiniform preapical tooth is closer to the apicodorsal tooth than it is to the proximal denticle. Subbasal bend of scape shallow; basally curved hairs on leading edge spoon-shaped and quite short, no longer than maximum width of scape. With head in full-face view hairs fringing upper scrobe margins, and cephalic ground-pilosity, spoon-shaped. Cephalic dorsum with two pairs of simple erect hairs, one close to highest point of vertex, the other near the occipital margin. Apicoscrobal hair flagellate, long and very conspicuous; pronotal humeral hair flagellate; an erect pair of flagellate hairs on mesonotum. Standing hairs on petiole, postpetiole and first gastral tergite all simple and erect, stiff and stout, straight or at most only extremely shallowly curved. Some of these hairs bluntly pointed apically, others narrowly rounded and blunt. Propodeal teeth subtended by lamellae that extend down declivity; basally the lamellae not angulate or dentiform. With petiole in profile the ventral surface with spongiform tissue present and the lateral lobe of the node distinct and spongiform. Disc of postpetiole smooth; basigastral costulae at least equal in length to postpetiole disc.

Paratypes. TL 1.9-2.2, HL 0.48-0.52, HW 0.37-0.41, CI 75-79, ML 0.28-0.32, MI 58-61, SL 0.30-0.34, SI 82-84, PW 0.24-0.27, AL 0.50-0.56 (4 measured).

Type Material
Bolton (2000) - Holotype worker, Costa Rica: Heredia, Est. Biol. La Selva, 50-150 m., 10°26'N, 84°01'W, 3.i.1994, INBio-OET, bosque secondario, B/20/357 (no collector's name).

Paratypes. 2 workers with same data as holotype but 1.ii.1994, B/04/3 80, bosque primario; 1 worker with same data but 1.ii.1994, B/03/379, bosque primario; 1 worker with same data but 1.vii.1993, B/01/138, parcelas sucesionales (BMNH,, ).