Strumigenys furtiva

Identification
Bolton (2000) - The smallest species of the alberti-group, approached only by the smallest examples of Strumigenys nigrescens. Unlike the latter Strumigenys furtiva has unspecialised principal dentition on the mandible (see under Strumigenys nigrescens).

S. fortiva is the only member of the group to lack a transverse row of 4 standing hairs on the vertex that are strongly differentiated from the ground-pilosity. Instead there is a single pair of hairs that are only slightly longer and slightly more erect than the ground-pilosity. The apicoscrobal hair of furtiva is unique in the group. In a few specimens it appears spatulate but in most, including the paratypes, it is strangely hooked; the shape appears to be caused by the front edge of the spatulate hair becoming detached from the main shaft, from close to the base to the apex.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil.

Nomenclature

 *  furtiva. Pyramica furtiva Bolton, 2000: 156 (w.) BRAZIL. Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 120

Worker
HOLOTYPE. TL 1.6, HL 0.46, HW 0.34, CI 74, ML 0.08, MI 17, SL 0.22, SI 65, PW 0.23, AL 0.44. Basal lamella mostly visible in full-face view with mandibles fully closed, the lamella followed immediately by a row of 5 short acutely triangular teeth; no secondary lamella and no alternation of tall pointed and low rounded teeth. Anterior clypeal margin evenly shallowly convex between points where outer margins of closed mandibles intersect anterior clypeal margin, rounding broadly into lateral margins. Apicoscrobal hair short and hooked (spatulate in some specimens), much shorter than the flagellate humeral hair and very different in appearance. Eye with 7 - 8 ommatidia in total. Vertex with a single pair of suberect standing hairs that are only weakly differentiated from the ground-pilosity. Promesonotal dorsum reticulate-punctate, propodeal dorsum much more faintly and superficially sculptured. Pleurae and side of propodeum glassy smooth. Petiole node in dorsal view sculptured, broader than long. Basigastral costulae strong, slightly longer than maximum length of postpetiole disc.

PARATYPE. TL 1.5-1.6, HL 0.45-0.46, HW 0.33-0.34, CI 73-74, ML 0.07-0.08, MI 15-17, SL 0.22-0.23, SI 65-67, PW 0.22-0.23, AL 0.42-0.44 (5 measured).

Type Material
Holotype worker, Brazil: Amazonas, Manaus to Itacoatiara Rd, km. 49, 27.viii.1962, M-95 (W.L. Brown).

Paratypes. 7 workers with same data as holotype (MCZ, ).