Strumigenys perparva

A forest inhabitant.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - This widely distributed minute species is the only member of the group to have posteriorly curved hairs on the upper scrobe margins. In the Neotropical region only perparva and Strumigenys ogloblini have this character, and they were included in a single group by Brown (1958e). However, ogloblini has an intercalary denticle in the apical fork, is larger (HL 0.55-0.56) and has a broad spongiform curtain ventrally on the petiole.

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

Nomenclature

 *  perparva. Strumigenys perparva Brown, 1958f: 133, fig. 1 (w.q.) TRINIDAD. [Strumigenys perparva Weber, 1952b: 3; unavailable name, attributed to Brown.] See also: Bolton, 2000: 556.

Worker
TL 1.6-1.8, HL 0.39-0.44, HW 0.32-0.36, CI 81-83, ML 0.20-0.26, MI 50-58, SL 0.20-0.24, SI 62-70, PW 0.20-0.25, AL 0.36-0.44 (10 measured).

Mandible with a single preapical tooth whose length is about equal to, or slightly less than, the distance separating it from the apicodorsal tooth; without a more proximal denticle. With the head in full-face view the spoon-shaped hairs that fringe the upper scrobe margins are curved posteriorly or posterodorsally; this row of hairs terminates in a fine flagellate apicoscrobal hair. Scape with an abrupt subbasal bend; hairs on leading edge of scape that curve toward the base of the scape longer than maximum width of scape. Flagellate hairs present at pronotal humeri, on mesonotum (1 pair), and on waist segments and first gastral tergite. Lamellae on propodeal declivity not dentiform at base. Ventral surface of petiole with a narrow cuticular carina but without spongiform tissue; lateral spongiform lobe of petiole vestigial, nothing more than a slight extension of the posterior collar.

Queen
Brown (195) - Dealate: TL 1.7, HL 0.40, ML 0.20, WL 0.42 mm.; CI 86, MI 51.

Differs from worker in the usual ways. Petiolar node even more depressed, and wider. Mesonotum evenly and densely punctulate, with carina or rugulae; with a few short, fine erect hairs. Eyes very small for a female Strumigenys, only weakly convex.

Type Material
Holotype worker, paratype worker and queen, TRINIDAD: Pitch Lake, 22.vi.1935 (N. A. Weber); paratypes, BRAZIL: Sao Paulo, Agudos, 6.iii.1955, No. 1376 (C. Gilbert); Belem do Pant (C.R. Goncalves) [examined].