Strumigenys teratrix

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys appretiata-group. Six species in this group combine the presence of a long flagellate hair at the pronotal humerus with the presence of a ventral spongiform lobe on the postpetiole: Strumigenys glenognatha, Strumigenys halosis, Strumigenys raptans, Strumigenys wheeleriana, teratrix and Strumigenys siagodens. The first four of these are distinguished by their basigastraI costulae that are much shorter than the length of the postpetiole disc; in the last two the basigastral costulae easily exceed the disc length. The larger siagodens separates from the smaller teratrix (compare measurements) by the presence in the former of long flexuous to flagellate hairs on the gaster, coupled with a marked reduction in the size of the ventral postpetiolar spongiform lobe. In teratrix this lobe is relatively large, easily distinguished, and is only slightly smaller than the lateral lobe in profile view. In siagodens the lobe is almost vestigial, present but extremely small and only a fraction of the size of the lateral lobe.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia.

Nomenclature

 *  teratrix. Pyramica teratrix Bolton, 2000: 163 (w.) COLOMBIA. Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 129

Worker
Holotype. TL 1.5, HL 0.44, HW 0.41, CI 93, ML 0.08, MI 18, SL 0.19, SI 46, PW 0.22, AL 0.44. Lateral expansions of frontal carinae shagreenate rather than clear, more obviously sculptured than the vertex. Pronotal humeral hair long, flagellate. Mesonotum with a single pair of shorter standing hairs. First gastral tergite with sparse curved simple hairs. Promesonotal dorsum glossy, with extremely fine faint longitudinal striation; propodeal dorsum and declivity reticulate-punctate. Propodeal spines broad basally, triangular, narrowly acute at apex. Dorsum of petiole node reticulate-punctate and disc of postpetiole with traces of sculpture rather than completely smooth. Basigastral costulae fine and very long, extending over the basal half of the tergite and conspicuously much longer than the postpetiole disc. Ventral spongiform lobe of postpetiole obvious in profile, only slightly smaller than the lateral lobe. Petiole node in dorsal view transversely rectangular, broader than long; lateral lobes of the node small, triangular and restricted to the posterior third of the side. Lateral margins of postpetiole disc shallowly convex, with extensive lateral spongiform lobes.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Colombia: 7 km. N Leticia, 10-25.ii.1972, B-230, forest litter (S. & J. Peck).