Strumigenys asaphes

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the excisa-complex in the Strumigenys excisa-group. Closely related to Strumigenys dontopagis and Strumigenys excisa and with them forming the excisa-complex of this group. S. asaphes differs from both dontopagis and excisa as follows.

S. asaphes: Outline of first gastral sternite longitudinally concave in basal half. Basal quarter of first gastral sternite strongly transversely concave on each side of midline, the midline itself a sharp longitudinal ridge. Lateral lobes of petiole and postpetiole well developed, lamellate. Eye with 4-5 ommatidia in total.

S. dontopagis and excisa: Outline of first gastral sternite longitudinally convex in basal half. Basal quarter of first gastral sternite shallowly transversely convex on each side of midline, the midline not forming a ridge. Lateral lobes of petiole minute to vestigial, of postpetiole small and triangular. Eye with 1 0 or more ommatidia in total.''

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Belize.

Nomenclature

 *  asaphes. Pyramica asaphes Bolton, 2000: 171 (w.) BELIZE. Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 115

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.0, HL 0.57, HW 0.50, CI 88, ML 0.11, MI 19, SL 0.24, SI 48, PW 0.28, AL 0.56. Eye small, with 4-5 ommatidia in total, located at extreme ventrolateral margin of head on a ventrally directed triangular prominence of the margin. Ventrolateral margin of head very sharply marginate from eye to posterior apex of scrobe. Petiole node in dorsal view distinctly broader than long. Petiole and postpetiole with extensive, roughly triangular, aliform lateral lobes that are lamellate and translucent. Base of gaster strongly dorsoventrally compressed. In profile longitudinal outline of first gastral sternite concave from close to midpoint to base; basally strongly transversely concave on each side of the midline and laterally overhung by the tergite. Hairs on clypeal dorsum dense, short and fine, elevated and arched anteriorly, very obvious in profile. Dorsolateral margins of head with numerous freely laterally projecting fine simple hairs. Dorsa of head, alitrunk and first gastral tergite with numerous fine simple standing hairs that are straight to shallowly curved. Dorsal (outer) surfaces of middle and hind tibiae and basitarsi with freely projecting long fine hairs, those on tibiae erect to suberect. Dorsum of head smooth and shining, peripherally with weak sculpture close to the lateral margins. Side of head behind scrobe loosely rugulose. Alitrunk and waist segments unsculptured, smooth and shining everywhere. Basigastral costulae vestigial to absent on smooth median third of segment, but on each side of the smooth area weak but long costulae are present that extend over half the length of the tergite.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Belize ("British Honduras· on data label): Augustine, 1500 ft, 20.viii.1972, evergreen forest litter (S. & J. Peck).