Strumigenys turpis

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the azteca-complex in the Strumigenys excisa-group. The non-paratypic material is distinctly more hairy than the holotype, with obviously more than 6 hairs on the cephalic dorsum and these not restricted to immediately in front of the occipital margin. Dorsolateral margin of head has 1-3 fine simple projecting hairs, one of which is in apicoscrobal position. These differences from the holotype may indicate the presence of two sibling species, or may be part of the normal variation of this species, or may suggest that the holotype had been abraded; the acquisition of more material is needed to show which is the correct interpretation.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico.

Nomenclature

 *  turpis. Pyramica turpis Bolton, 2000: 176 (w.) MEXICO. Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 130

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.0, HL 0.54, HW 0.44, CI 81, ML 0.11, MI 20, SL 0.22, SI 50, PW 0.26, AL 0.54. With head in full-face view anterior clypeal margin extremely shallowly concave, almost transverse. Lateral margins of clypeus convex, separated from margins of frontal lobes by distinct impressions. Lateral outline of frontal lobe broadly shallowly convex but upper scrobe margins narrower than frontal lobes and shallowly concave, so that the outline has a distinctly pinched-in appearance behind the frontal lobes. Dorsolateral margin of head with a si mple apicoscrobal hair. Dorsum of head with an arched transverse row of 6 short erect hairs in front of the occipital margin; dorsum otherwise without standing hairs. Eye with 6-7 ommatidia in total. Arch of anteroventral margin of head in front of eye low, broad and shallow, the arch spanned by a thin cuticular carina. Pronotal humeral hair simple; dorsa of both pronotum and mesonotum with a number of erect simple hairs, especially on the dorsolateral margins. Dorsum and sides of alitrunk glassy smooth everywhere. Suberect to erect short simple hairs present on waist segments and on first gastral tergite, where 4-6 pairs occur on the basal half. Basigastral costulae sharply defined dorslaterally, the spaces between them finely superficially shagreenate.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Mexico: Oaxaca, 15 mi. S Valle Nacional, 4000 ft, 21.v.1971, B-204 (S. Peck).