Strumigenys wrayi

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys talpa-group. The arrangement of clypeal marginal pilosity here is reminiscent of Strumigenys reflexa, but in that species there are hairs on the leading edge of the scape that curve toward the scape base and most of the clypeal dorsum lacks hairs. The arrangement and orientation of the clypeal pilosity quickly separates wrayi from Strumigenys talpa.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Nearctic Region: United States.



Nomenclature

 *  wrayi. Smithistruma (Smithistruma) wrayi Brown, 1950b: 38, pl. 3, fig. 5 (w.) U.S.A. Combination in Pyramica: Bolton, 1999: 1673; in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 130. See also: Brown, 1953g: 78; Bolton, 2000: 133.

Worker
Holotype -Total length (TL) 2.02 mm., head length (HL) 0.53 mm., length of alitrunk (WL) 0.50 mm., cephalic index (CI) 70, mandibulo-cephalic index 17. Resembling and very close to Strumigenys talpa, of which Strumigenys venatrix is a synonym. The chief difference is one of clypeal pilosity, and this is very striking even at first glance. Sides of free clypeal border each with four prominent well-spaced, inverted spoon-shaped hairs, broader than the corresponding hairs of talpa and curved strongly away from the midline, the apices of some directed more or less posteriorly. Four reduced hairs at the center of the anterior portion of the free border also are directed somewhat laterally. Disc of clypeus granulose-punctulate, opaque, with inconspicuous but rather abundant and evenly distributed small, posteriorly inclined finely subspatulate hairs. Gastric costulae extending more than 7:3 the length of the basal tergite, considerably longer and more distinct than in most talpa workers I have seen. Color medium ferrugineous, first gastric segment a bit darker and more brownish. In all other characters this species resembles talpa very closely.

Bolton (2000) - TL 2.0, HL 0.53-0.56, HW 0.37-0.38, CI 66-70, ML 0.07-0.09, MI 14-17, SL 0.26-0.28, SI 70-74, PW 0.24-0.26, AL 0.50-0.56 (3 measured). Broadly rounded anterior clypeal margin with 2 pairs of very small hairs that are curved away from the midline. Lateral margins of clypeus with spoon-shaped hairs that project laterally and somewhat obliquely posteriorly. Dorsum of clypeus with numerous short narrowly spatulate hairs that are all sharply inclined posteriorly. Basigastral costulae sharply defined and clearly extending more than one-third the length of the tergite.

Type Material
Holotype, a unique, deposited in the the at Harvard University; collected with the aid of a Berlese funnel from leaf mould at Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Bolton (2000) - Holotype worker, U. S. A. North Carolina, Fayetteville, 22.xi.1948, berlesate of leaf mould (D.L. Wray) [examined].

Etymology
This species is named for the collector, Dr. David L. Wray, who has added very substantially to the knowledge of the Nearctic ant fauna through his zealous efforts to make known the microgenton of North Carolina.