Strumigenys californica

Identification
Within the group the dentition and adiastemate condition of the mandible allies this species with Strumigenys arizonica and Strumigenys rostrata (see there). The apical sculpture of the gastral segments is unique in the group and immediately identifies californica.

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



Nomenclature

 *  californica. Smithistruma (Smithistruma) californica Brown, 1950b: 40 (q.) U.S.A. Ward, 1988: 120 (w.). Combination in Pyramica: Bolton, 1999: 1673; in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 116. See also: Brown, 1953g: 85; Bolton, 2000: 126.

Bolton (2000) - In the original description of the holotype queen Brown (1950b) mentions that the head has one or two transverse rows of elongate erect hairs near the occipital margin. Of the worker Ward (1988) says that the head has no sign of flagellate or linear hairs, and this also applies to the San Lucas worker mentioned below. The LACM paratype queen, as well as having a few standing hairs near the occipital margin, has a short simple apicoscrobal curved hair, this latter hair not being recorded by either Brown or Ward. It is possible that these differences may reflect caste-specific characters, or that the workers may have had their longer cephalic hairs abraded. But it may imply that two sibling species are present. Material of californica is so sparse that no conclusion can be reached at present.

Worker
Bolton (2000) - HL 0.60-0.62, HW 0.38, CI 62, MI 16, AL 0.61 (measurements from Ward, 1988). Basal lamella of mandible followed without a diastema by the principal row of 5 acute teeth. First gastral tergite with sharply defined basigastral costulae that extend about one-quarter the length of the sclerite. Behind this the tergite smooth until the apical quarter or so, where there is a distinct transverse band of fine reticulate and longitudinally striate sculpture. Similar sculpture present at apex of first gastral sternite and at apices of tergites 2 and 3. Pronotal humeral hair long fine and flagellate.

Type Material
Bolton (2000) - Holotype queen and paratype queens, U.S.A.: California, Claremont (C.F. Baker) [examined].