Strumigenys epelys

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys silvestrii-group. Of the silvestrii-group species that lack spongiform tissue on the ventral petiole only epelys, Strumigenys ascita and Strumigenys silvestrii have pilosity on the first gastral tergite that is short, stout and spatulate to remiform; in all others the pilosity is elongate and slender, flexuous to flagellate (see under Strumigenys dyseides). Strumigenys ascita has two spiniform preapical teeth on the mandible whereas epelys and silvestrii have a spiniform distal preapical tooth and a proximal minute denticle that is located close to the mandibular midlength. In silvestrii the usual distribution of projecting hairs is present on head and alitrunk: in apicoscrobal position; on vertex close to occipital margin; at pronotal humerus; on dorsum of mesonotum. All these hairs are stiff, more or less straight or feebly curved, and simple to narrowly remiform. In epelys there are no such hairs at any of these locations.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Paraguay.

Nomenclature

 *  epelys. Strumigenys epelys Bolton, 2000: 552 (w.) PARAGUAY.

Worker
Holotype. TL 1.6, HL 0.42, HW 0.32, CI 76, ML 0.20, MI 48, SL 0.26, SI 81, PW 0.20, AL 0.42. Mandible with a single preapical tooth that is widely separated from the apicodorsal tooth and shorter than the distance separating it from the apicodorsal tooth. Proximal of mandible midlength is a minute denticle that is difficult to see. Hairs that fringe upper scrobe margin small, narrowly spatulate; those on leading edge of scape inconspicuous, shorter than maximum width of scape. Subbasal bend of scape very slight and evenly curved. Ground-pilosity of cephalic dorsum of short narrowly spatulate hairs that are dense and almost appressed; apicoscrobal hair absent; dorsum without a pair of erect hairs close to occipital margin. Pronotal humeral hair absent; ground-pilosity of promesonotum similar to that of head but less dense; mesonotum without a pair of standing hairs. Lamella on propodeal declivity broad, dorsally engaging propodeal tooth through all its length, basally the lamella bluntly angular but not dentiform. First gastral tergite with numerous narrowly spatulate hairs that are suberect to subdecumbent and curved medially or posteromedially. Apex of first tergite, and dorsum of second tergite, with a few short simple erect hairs; similar but even shorter simple erect hairs project from first gastral stemite; in profile these contrast strongly with the spatulate hairs of the first tergite. Petiole in dorsal view broader than long; ventral surface of petiole without spongiform tissue and lateral spongiform lobe absent. Disc of postpetiole finely reticulate-punctate. Basigastral costulae fine and dense, longer than postpetiole disc.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Paraguay: Paraguari, 15 km. E Cerrito, 12.x.1982 (J.-L. Perret).

Paratype. 1 worker with same data as holotype.