Strumigenys skia

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys silvestrii-group. A short Colombian series (3 workers) matches the holotype in all but the length of the basigastral costulae, which are longer, being about equal in length to the postpetiole disc or slightly longer. Their size-range is very similar: HL 0.48-0.49, HW 0.36-0.37, CI 75-77, ML 0.24-0.25, MI 50-52, SL 0.30-0.31, SI 81-85. Several species in this group have flagellate hairs on the first gastral tergite, but this is the only one to combine that character with presence of mesonotal flagellate hairs together with relatively short mandibles, a glassy smooth postpetiole disc and relatively short basigastral costulae. Further notes on related species are given under Strumigenys dyseides.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Venezuela.

Nomenclature

 *  skia. Strumigenys skia Bolton, 2000: 560 (w.) ECUADOR.

Worker
Holotype. TL 1.9, HL 0.47, HW 0.36, CI 77, ML 0.26, MI 55, SL 0.30, SI 83, PW 0.26, AL 0.46. Spiniform preapical tooth of mandible located well proximal of apicodorsal tooth; a tiny preapical denticle present just proximal of mandibular midlength. Scape with an obtuse but conspicuous subbasal bend; curved hairs on leading edge of scape narrowly spatulate, the longest of them about equal to the maximum width of the scape. Apicoscrobal hair very fine, long and flagellate. G round-pilosity of head narrowly spatulate; close to occipital margin is a pair of slightly more erect straighter hairs but these are not strongly differentiated from the ground-pilosity and if curved forward may be overlooked. Pronotal humeral hair very fine, long and flagellate; an erect pair of similar hairs on the mesonotum. Dorsum of first gastral tergite with widely spaced flagellate hairs but these are much stouter than those on the head and alitrunk and each arises from a very conspicuous pit. The pits are arranged in spaced longitudinal rows on the lateral thirds of the sclerite, the median third is without them. Surface between the flagellate hairs bare, without fine simple ground-pilosity. Propodeum with a pair of slender short teeth, subtended by narrow lamellae. Petiole in profile without spongiform tissue ventrally; lateral spongiform lobe reduced, no more than a slight expansion at apex of posterior collar; node with height of anterior face greater than length of dorsal surface (discounting posterior collar). In dorsal view petiole node broader than long. Disc of postpetiole narrow, subglobular and glassy smooth. Basigastral costulae very short, shorter than postpetiole disc.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Ecuador: Tungurahua, Valle Rio Pastaza dint. Rio Negro, 1160 m., 2.ix. 1984 (Zoia).