Strumigenys nitens

A forest inhabitant that has been found in litter samples.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys nitens-group. S. nitens differs from Strumigenys convexiceps as follows. In nitens the clypeus and upper scrobe margins have fine faint longitudinal striolate sculpture, traces of which are also present on the cephalic dorsum between the frontal carinae; these areas are at most feebly shagreenate in convexiceps. Basigastral costulae are visible on the limbus but only extend faintly onto the extreme base of the tergite in nitens, whereas in convexiceps they extend well beyond the basal quarter of the tergite. Dorsum of head in nitens with elongate spatulate hairs that curve toward the midline. There are no such hairs in convexiceps but the vertex has a few short erect simple hairs: a pair (or possibly a transverse row of 4) in front of the highest point of the vertex, and a pair close to the occipital margin. First gastral tergite with numerous long fine curved hairs in nitens, but with very sparse (apparently only 2 pairs) of short erect hairs in convexiceps.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Bahamas, Cuba, Greater Antilles.

Nomenclature

 *  nitens. Strumigenys (Codiomyrmex) nitens Santschi, 1932e: 413, fig. 2 (w.) CUBA. Combination in Codiomyrmex Weber, 1934a: 52; in Dorisidris: Brown, 1948e: 116; in Pyramica: Bolton, 1999: 1672; in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 125. See also: Bolton, 2000: 208.

Worker
Bolton (2000) - TL 1.9-2.0, HL 0.45-0.46, HW 0.34-0.36, CI 76-78, ML 0.16-0.19, MI 36-40, SL 0.20-0.22, SI 59-61, P W 0.22-0.25, AL 0.48-0.52 (4 measured).

Mandibles in full-face view and at full closure elongate-triangular, strongly tapering apically. Extreme apices of mandibles alone engage and a broad sub ovate gap is present between them through which the broad labral lobes are visible. Inner mandibular margin with 2 small conical teeth whose apices are widely separated at full closure; the first about one-third of the margin length from the base, the second about two-thirds the way along the margin. Apex of mandible with a more or less vertical series of 4 teeth, the upper two longer and spiniform, the lower two shorter and triangular, giving a total dental count of 6.

Type Material
Bolton (2000) - Holotype worker, CUBA: Province de Pinar del Rio, Sierra del Rosario, 17.xi.1931 (A. Bierig) [specimen missing from mount, July, 1996].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Alayo D. P. 1974. Introduccion al estudio de los Himenopteros de Cuba. Superfamilia Formicoidea. Academia de Ciencias de Cuba. Instituto de Zoologia. Serie Biologica no.53: 58 pp. La Habana.
 * Bolton B. 1999. Ant genera of the tribe Dacetonini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Natural History 33: 1639-1689.
 * Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65
 * Booher D. B., M. M. Prebus, and D. Lubertazzi. 2019. A taxonomic revision of the Strumigenys nitens and simulans groups (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), two Caribbean radiations of leaf litter ants. Zootaxa 4656: 335-358.
 * Brown W. L., Jr. 1950. Revision of the ant tribe Dacetini: II. Glamyromyrmex Wheeler and closely related small genera. Trans. Am. Entomol. Soc. 76: 27-36.
 * Deyrup M. 1997. Dacetine ants of the Bahamas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bahamas Journal of Science 5(1): 2-6.
 * Deyrup M., L. Davis, and S. Buckner. 1998. Composition of the ant fauna of three Bahamian islands. Proceedings of the seventh symposium on the natural history of the Bahamas. 23-32. Bahamian Field Station, San Salvador, Bahamas
 * Fontanla Rizo J.L. 1997. Lista preliminar de las hormigas de Cuba. Cocuyo 6: 18-21.
 * Fontenla J. L., and J. Alfonso-Simonetti. 2018. Classification of Cuban ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) into functional groups. Poeyana Revista Cubana de Zoologia 506: 21-30.
 * Fontenla Rizo J. L. 1997. Lista preliminar de las hormigas de Cuba (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Cocuyo 6: 18-21.
 * Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
 * Portuondo E. F., and J. L. Reyes. 2002. Mirmecofauna de los macizos montañosos de Sierra Maestra y Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa. Cocuyo 12: 10-13
 * Portuondo Ferrer, E. and J. Fernandez Triana. Biodiversidad del orden Hymenoptera en Los Macizos Montanosos de Cuba Oriental. Boletin S.E.A. 35:121-136.
 * Reyes, J. L. "Inventario de la colección de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) del Centro Oriental de Ecosistemas y Biodiversidad, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba." Boletín de la Sociedad Aragonesa 36 (2005): 279-283.
 * Santschi F. 1932. Quelques fourmis inédites de l'Amérique centrale et Cuba. Revista de Entomologia (Rio de Janeiro). 2: 410-414.