Strumigenys godeffroyi

A tramp species that is widely distributed across many Pacific and Indian Ocean islands.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the godeffroyi complex in the Strumigenys godeffroyi-group. Thirteen species in the godeffroyi-complex have predominantly smooth pleurae and side of propodeum. Seven of these, Strumigenys geminata, godeffroyi, Strumigenys juliae, Strumigenys lewisi, Strumigenys nytaxis, Strumigenys peraucta and Strumigenys uberyx, have the pair of erect hairs closest to the midline on the occipital margin short and stiff (best seen with the head in profile). This pair of hairs is erect or nearly so, and straight or at most only very shallowly evenly curved. In the other six (see under Strumigenys nanzanensis) the pair of hairs at this location are long and fine, sometimes subflagellate, and are either abruptly angled anteriorly in their apical halves or have their apical halves looped.

Of the seven listed above the first two, godeffroyi and nytaxis, do not have elongate standing hairs on the pronotum except for the humeral pair. These two are easily differentiated as follows.

1 In godeffroyi the dorsolateral margin of the head posterior to the flagellate apicoscrobal hair has a row of 3-4 stiffly anterolaterally projecting hairs that are more or less cylindrical; these contrast with the more strongly curved narrowly spatulate hairs that occur on the upper scrobe margin anterior to the flagellate hair. In nytaxis there are no stiffly projecting cylindrical hairs posterior to the flagellate hair.

2 In godeffroyi the dorsum and side of the pronotum is densely clothed with a conspicuous pelt of curved linear-spatulate ground-pilosity that gives the sclerite a vaguely furry appearance. In nytaxis pronotal ground-pilosity is sparse and inconspicuous dorsally, almost absent laterally.

3 In godeffroyi, with the propodeum in profile the lamella on the declivity terminates dorsally in a convex rim or crest of spongiform tissue that lies on top of the propodeal tooth or its vestige. In nytaxis the lamella on the declivity is flat-topped, the dorsal surface of the propodeal tooth or its vestige is not adorned with a convex crest of spongiform tissue.

4 In godeffroyi the dorsum of the petiole node is finely and densely reticulate-punctate, contrasting with the disc of the postpetiole which is mostly or entirely unsculptured. In nytaxis the dorsum of the petiole node is un sculptured or nearly so, very similar to the disc of the postpetiole.

The remaining five species, lewisi, juliae, geminata, peraucta and uberyx, are closely related and have a pair of erect hairs on the pronotal dorsum in addition to the humeral pair. In juliae and uberyx the dorsum and sides of the pronotum are mostly to entirely smooth and shining when clean; see comments under the latter name. This sclerite in lewisi, geminata and peraucta bears extensive reticulate-punctate sculpture either dorsally, laterally, or both. The Indian peraucta has cephalic ground-pilosity that is almost reclinate, each hair being so strongly curved basally that the main length of the hair-shaft parallels the surface or even inclines back down toward the surface. In both lewisi and geminata the cephalic ground-pilosity is decidedly elevated; the main length of each hair distinctly inclines upward, away from the surface, from base to apex. Finally, lewisi is a larger and more stockily built species than geminata, compare measurements and see comments under the latter name.

Sarnat and Economo (2012) - Fiji: Strumigenys godeffroyi is immediately recognizable among the Fijian dacetines by the plethora of long fine flagellate hairs that occur on all dorsal surfaces, including those of the gaster.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia, New Caledonia. Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Fiji, Guam, Hawaii, Indonesia, Krakatau Islands, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), New Guinea, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna Islands. Malagasy Region: Mauritius, Seychelles. Nearctic Region: United States. Oriental Region: India, Sri Lanka.

Biology
This ant is associated with three species of mealybugs, namely: Geococcus coffeae Green, Geococcus associatus Lit and Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell). All are found on roots of Beaucarnea recurvata (Lem.) Hemi. This was also mentioned by Lit (1992) in his description of G. associatus.

Brown (1949) - This species ranges very widely, being found on many insignificant islands and coral atolls in the Pacific. It will probably be found on any really tropical shore in the central and western part of the Pacific. Since specimens have been taken in the U. S. Plant Quarantine and in other circumstances which leave no doubt that godeffroyi can and does spread through commerce as a tramp, the extent to which the species had colonized the present range through natural means, such as by floating logs and debris, may never be known. The presence of closely related species on New Zealand, Australia, and elsewhere in the Pacific indicates that the group in general is one which has been able to travel over long stretches of open sea and establish successful populations without help from man.

Nomenclature

 *  godeffroyi. Strumigenys godeffroyi Mayr, 1866a: 516 (w.) SAMOA. Mayr, 1887: 569 (q.); Imai, Brown, et al. 1984: 68 (k.). Senior synonym of butteli, indica: Brown, 1949d: 17; of geococci: Bolton, 2000: 791. See also: Bingham, 1903: 149.
 * indica. Strumigemys godefroyi var. indica Forel, 1902c: 243 (q.) INDIA. Junior synonym of godeffroyi: Brown, 1949d: 17.
 * butteli. Strumigenys godeffroyi var. butteli Forel, 1913k: 83 (w.q.) SRI LANKA. Junior synonym of godeffroyi: Brown, 1949d: 17.
 * geococci. Strumigenys godeffroyi subsp. geococci Calilung, 2000: 70, fig. 3 (w.) PHILIPPINES (Luzon). Junior synonym of godeffroyi: Bolton, 2000: 791.

Worker
TL 2.1-2.5, HL 0.54-0.64, HW 0.40-0.45, CI 67-73, ML 0.24-0.30, MI 45-49, SL 0.33-0.40, SI 86-95, PW 0.26-0.28, AL 0.56-0.67 (20 measured).

Characters of godeffroyi-complex. Cephalic dorsum with pair of erect hairs closest to midline on occipital margin short stiff and erect, straight to shallowly evenly curved, the apical half not abruptly curved anteriorly nor looped. With head in full-face view the dorsolateral margin posterior to the flagellate apicoscrobal hair has a row of 3-4 stiffly projecting hairs. These hairs contrast with the marginal hairs anterior to the flagellate hair as they are more cylindrical (i.e. not spatulate), more elevated and less strongly curved anteriorly. Pronotum with a somewhat furry appearance: ground-pilosity on pronotal dorsum dense and conspicuous, linear-spatulate, arched and somewhat elevated, in profile appearing as a pelt; side of pronotum also densely clothed with similar ground-pilosity. Dorsum of pronotum without flagellate hairs apart from the humeral pair. Pleurae and side of propodeum mostly to entirely smooth, any reticulate-punctate sculpture present is confined to periphery. Propodeal declivity with a broad and very conspicuous spongiform lamella, the propodeal teeth only weakly expressed (may be vestigial) and entirely buried in the lamella. Dorsal surface of propodeal tooth in profile surmounted by a convex crest or ridge of spongiform tissue. Disc of postpetiole un sculptured. Basigastral costulae conspicuous but not extending half the length of the tergite.