Strumigenys brevicornis

Identification
A member of the crassicornis complex in the Strumigenys gundlachi group.

Distribution
Widely distributed and relatively common in Central America

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama.

Nomenclature

 *  brevicornis. Strumigenys brevicornis Mann, 1922: 38 (w.q.) HONDURAS. Combination in Neostruma: Brown, 1948e: 111; in Pyramica: Bolton, 1999: 1673; in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 116. Senior synonym of mustelina: Bolton, 2000: 180. See also: Brown, 1959b: 10.
 * mustelina. Strumigenys (Strumigenys) mustelina Weber, 1934a: 34, fig. 11 (q.) MEXICO. Brown, 1959b: 7 (w.m.). Combination in Neostruma: Brown, 1959b: 7; in Pyramica: Bolton, 1999: 1672. Junior synonym of brevicornis: Bolton, 2000: 180.

Worker
Bolton (2000) - TL 1.7-2.2, HL 0.41-0.55, HW 0.34-0.43, CI 74-81, ML 0.16-0.22, MI 36-45, SL 0.16-0.26, SI 53-60, PW 0.24-0.30, AL 0.43-0.58 (52 measured). Characters of crassicornis-complex. Dentition variable, with 4 - 6 denticles between apicodorsal tooth and submedian tooth and with 1 - 5 denticles proximal of the submedian tooth. Apex of mandible with 4 - 5 minute intercalary denticles between apicodorsal and apicoventral teeth. Eye with 2 - 3 ommatidia in longest row, very rarely with 4; with 5 - 9 ommatidia in total. Leading edge of scape evenly convex, without an abrupt lobate expansion at the subbasal angle. Head capsule in profile not strikingly dorsoventrally flattened, the maximum vertical distance between highest and lowest points 0.45-0.52 X HL. Spongiform lobes of postpetiole small but obvious. Standing hairs on dorsal petiole and postpetiole remiform; those on the first gastral tergite remiform or flattened and expanded apically.

Widely distributed and relatively common in Central America, this small species shows colour forms varying from yellow-brown to black, with intermediate shades. In general darker coloured samples are somewhat larger and usually occur at greater altitude than lighter individuals.

Type Material
Syntype workers and queen, HONDURAS: Ceiba, ii-iii. 1 920, No. 24458 (W.M. Mann) (examined).

Strumigenys (Strumigenys) mustelina Weber, 1934a: 34, fig. 11. Syntype queens (alate), MEXICO: Vera Cruz Prov., Jicoltepec, San Rafael (examined).