Strumigenys denticulata

Collection records show this ant is typically sampled from litter samples in a variety of forest habitats. Brown (1962) noted it occurs in both primary and second-growth forest, in leaf litter; epiphytes and in termite nests.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the gundlachi complex in the Strumigenys gundlachi group. Of the five species immediately related to Strumigenys gundlachi, denticulata is easily diagnosed by its very long mandibles and extremely reduced postpetiolar appendages.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela.

Biology
DaRocha et al. (2015) studied the diversity of ants found in bromeliads of a single large tree of Erythrina, a common cocoa shade tree, at an agricultural research center in Ilhéus, Brazil. Forty-seven species of ants were found in 36 of 52 the bromeliads examined. Bromeliads with suspended soil and those that were larger had higher ant diversity. Strumigenys denticulata was found in a single bromeliad and was associated with the suspended soil and litter of the plant.

Nomenclature

 *  denticulata. Strumigenys denticulata Mayr, 1887: 576 (w.) BRAZIL. Brown, 1960b: 47 (q.). Combination in Pyramica: Bolton, 1999: 1673; in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 118. Senior synonyn of aschnae, aschnakiranae: Bolton, Sosa-Calvo, et al. 2008: 62. See also: Bolton, 2000: 183.
 * aschnae. Pyramica aschnae Makhan, 2007a: 2, figs. 3, 4 (w.) SURINAM. Junior synonym of denticulata: Bolton, Sosa-Calvo, et al. 2008: 62.
 * aschnakiranae. Pyramica aschnakiranae Makhan, 2007a: 3, figs. 5, 6 (w.) SURINAM. Junior synonym of denticulata: Bolton, Sosa-Calvo, et al. 2008: 62.

Many samples of denticulata have MI 72-77, but some have mandibles that are noticably longer, MI 81-85; sometimes individuals falling into both ranges occur in a single litter sample. A couple of workers from Narino Orito, Colombia (IAVH, BMNH) cloud the issue even further. They are very large and have exceptionally long mandibles and scapes (HL 0.55, HW 0.39, CI 71, ML 0.52, MI 94, SL 0.37, SI 95), falling well outside the range noted for this group. I cannot decide if this represents the presence of two or more sibling species or can be considered as normal variation within denticulata. A more detailed taxonomic investigation is needed to resolve this point.

Worker
TL 1.8-2.2, HL 0.42-0.48, HW 0.33-0.37, CI 76-80, ML 0.30-0.40, MI 72-85, SL 0.23-0.29, SI 68-81, PW 0.20-0.24, AL 0.40-0.48 (25 measured). Characters of gundlachi complex; see also notes under Strumigenys gundlachi. Inner margins of the long mandibles more or less straight to shallowly concave, with 5 - 10 preapical denticles on the distal half to two-thirds of the length. Spongiform appendages of postpetiole obsolete to absent: ventral lobe absent or at most represented only by a minute non-spongiform vestige; lateral lobe absent or at most represented by a very narrow carina. First gastral tergite very rarely smooth except for basigastral costulae, usually with superficial reticulate or shagreenate sculpture present near the base. Pair of erect hairs on mesonotum apparently always short and stiff.

Type Material
Syntype workers, BRAZIL: Santa Catarina (examined).