Strumigenys elongata

Strumigenys elongata is one of the most common Strumigenys species in forested habitats of Costa Rica. It occurs in dry and wet forests. It may nest on the forest floor in dead wood or under stones, or under epiphytes in the canopy. Brown (1954, 1962) reports that it is definitely a collembolan feeder (Longino, Ants of Costa Rica).

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys elongata-group. This is by far the commonest and most widely distributed member of the group. Except for Strumigenys consanii other species in the group are diagnosed here by comparison with the above features. In general, pariensis resembles elongata most closely, but has strangely modified flagellate gastral pilosity. Gastral hairs in the other two species, Strumigenys spathula and Strumigenys tachirensis, are not flagellate but rather are remiform or short stout and thick.

Longino (Ants of Costa Rica) - Apical fork of mandible with no intercalary teeth; mandible with no preapical teeth; postpetiole small, its dorsum densely punctulate and opaque; setae on gaster flagelliform, bent, coachwhip-like.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela.

Biology
Brown (1962) - This species is definitely a co]lembolan feeder, common in the leaf litter of tropical forest. It seems to tolerate drier as well as wet forest types.

DaRocha et al. (2015) studied the diversity of ants found in bromeliads of a single large tree of Erythrina, a common cocoa shade tree, at an agricultural research center in Ilhéus, Brazil. Forty-seven species of ants were found in 36 of 52 the bromeliads examined. Bromeliads with suspended soil and those that were larger had higher ant diversity. Strumigenys elongata was found in 4 different bromeliads and was associated with the suspended soil and litter of the plants.

Nomenclature

 *  elongata. Strumigenys elongata Roger, 1863a: 212 (w.) PANAMA. Brown, 1954c: 191 (q.m.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1955a: 138 (l.). Senior synonym of imitator, nicaraguensis: Brown, 1954c: 189; of rishwani: Bolton, Sosa-Calvo, et al. 2008: 62. See also: Bolton, 2000: 510.
 * imitator. Strumigenys imitator Mayr, 1887: 572 (w.m.) BRAZIL. Junior synonym of elongata: Brown, 1954c: 189.
 * nicaraguensis. Strumigenys (Strumigenys) elongata subsp. nicaraguensis Weber, 1934a: 31 (w.) NICARAGUA. Junior synonym of elongata: Brown, 1954c: 189.
 * rishwani. Pyramica rishwani Makhan, 2007a: 5, figs. 9, 10 (appears to be q., not w.) SURINAM. Combination in Strumigenys: Bolton, Sosa-Calvo, et al. 2008: 62. Junior synonym of elongata: Bolton, Sosa-Calvo, et al. 2008: 62.

Worker
Bolton (2000) - TL 2.1-2.6, HL 0.54-0.68, HW 0.40-0.50, CI 72-75, ML 0.31-0.41, MI 55-63, SL 0.36-0.48, SI 87-97, PW 0.23-0.31, AL 0.50-0.68 (20 measured). Brown (1954c) records some workers smaller than the minimum measured above, with HL 0.50, ML 0.28.

Cephalic dorsum with a single pair of short erect hairs, simple to narrowly spatulate, close to the occipital margin. Mesonotum with a pair of long erect flagellate hairs that are often inclined anteriorly in their apical halves. First gastral tergite with long wavy flagellate hairs. Mesopleuron with a smooth area and a similar smooth area usually also present on metapleuron; the latter sometimes shows diffuse punctures but is not usually densely reticulate-punctate. Propodeal spine subtended only by a very fine carina on the declivity. Ventral surface of petiole without trace of spongiform tissue. Disc of postpetiole densely reticulate-punctate. Basigastral costulae fine, conspicuous.

Type Material
Bolton (2000) - Holotype worker, PANAMA (holotype lost).