Strumigenys parsauga

The one specimen of this species was from a wet forest habitat, from a Winkler sample of sifted leaf litter from the forest floor (Longino, Ants of Costa Rica). A subsequent collection was made from a litter sample in montane moist forest (Panama).

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys alberti-group.

Longino (Ants of Costa Rica) - Mandibles in side view straight, not broadly curved ventrally; mandibles relatively short, subtriangular, much of the apical portion meeting along a serially toothed masticatory margin when closed (former Smithistruma); leading edge of scape with a row of conspicuous projecting curved hairs, of which those distal to the subbasal bend distinctly curve toward the base of the scape; pronotal humeral hair present; ventral surface of petiole in profile with a deep, conspicuous and very obviously spongiform curtain, its maximum depth at least half that of the peduncle and usually more; disc of postpetiole completely unsculptured and glassy smooth; anterior border of clypeus broadly rounded; basal lamella of mandible immediately followed distally by the tooth-row, without a second lamella that extends forward for half the exposed length of the fully closed mandible; mandibles short, MI 19-24; compound eye composed of about 4 facets (approximately 10 facets in nigrescens and fridericimuelleri); promesonotal dorsum without a median longitudinal carina; pronotal dorsum entirely smooth and shining; propodeal dorsum smooth and shining. Similar to Strumigenys fridericimuelleri and Strumigenys nigrescens.

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

Nomenclature

 *  parsauga. Pyramica parsauga Bolton, 2000: 157 (w.) COSTA RICA. Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 125

Worker
HOLOTYPE. TL 1.9, HL 0.52, HW 0.36, CI 69, ML 0.12, MI 23, SL 0.26, SI 72, PW 0.24, AL 0.50. Basal lamella mostly visible in full-face view with mandibles fully closed, the lamella followed immediately by a row of 5 acute triangular teeth; no secondary lamella and no alternation of tall pointed and low rounded teeth. Anterior clypeal margin prominently arched-convex between points where outer margins of closed mandibles intersect anterior clypeal margin. Apicoscrobal hair flagellate, long and fine. Eye very small, with only 2 ommatidia in the longest row and only 4 ommatidia in total. Promesonotal dorsum without a median longitudinal carina, the dorsum and sides of the pronotum unsculptured, smooth and shining. Mesonotum and propodeal declivity reticulate-punctate but dorsum of propodeum smooth. Petiole node in dorsal view smooth, slightly broader than long and with thick, strongly prominent lateral spongiform lobes.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Costa Rica: Provo Limon, Res. Biol. Hitoy-Cerere, 9°40'N, 83°02'W, 500 m., 30.viii.1985, wet forest, ex sifted leaf litter, #970-s (J. Longino).