Key to Nearctic Strumigenys (as Pyramica)

This worker key is based on: Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028.

This key is from a revision study that included the now synonymized genus Pyramica. Therefore there are two keys that treat two sets of Strumigenys species, the key found below (the group of species once classified as Pyramica) and a key to NearcticStrumigenys.

Bolton noted in regards to this key:
 * Very rarely individual specimens in series of long-diastemate species may show a minute adventitious denticle immediately proximal of the basalmost tooth; when present this denticle should be ignored at couplet 21.

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 * There are some species recorded from Mexico which have not been found in the U.S.A., so species from the extreme south of North America that do not run in this key should also be checked through the Neotropical key.
 * The suspected social parasite Strumigenys inopina, known only from queens and with an unknown host, is omitted from the key.
 * Strumigenys

1

 * Mandibles narrow and elongate, sublinear to linear in full-face view; in this view and at full closure the mandibles engage only in the apical third or less of their length, MI 25-67 . . . . . 2


 * Mandibles triangular to elongate-triangular in full-face view; in this view and at full closure the mandibles engage through the apical half or more of their length, at most with a basal gap, MI 11-25 . . . . . 6

2
return to couplet #1
 * Petiole in profile with a conspicuous ventral crest or curtain of spongiform tissue. Disc of postpetiole smooth and shining. MI 25-42 . . . . . 3


 * Petiole in profile without spongiform tissue ventrally. Disc of postpetiole reticulate-punctate. MI 58-67 . . . . . 5

3
return to couplet #2
 * With head in full-face view and mandibles fully closed only 3 teeth visible: 2 small preapical teeth and an extremely long apicodorsal tooth that completely crosses over the tooth from the opposite mandible and projects beyond the outer margin of the opposite mandible. Leading edge of scape with all hairs curved toward the scape apex. Dorsal (outer) surface of hind basitarsus without projecting flagellate hairs. Scape relatively short and head broad, SI < 55, CI 100 or more . . . . . Strumigenys hexamera


 * With head in full-face view and mandibles fully closed numerous small teeth and denticles visible; without an extremely long apicodorsal tooth that completely crosses over the tooth from the opposite mandible and projects beyond the outer margin of the opposite mandible. Leading edge of scape with one or more hairs that are curved toward the scape base. Dorsal (outer) surface of hind basitarsus with 1-3 freely projecting fine flagellate hairs. Scape relatively long and head narrow, SI > 60, CI 68-79 . . . . . 4

4
return to couplet #3
 * Basal and two succeeding teeth on mandible triangular and acute, the second tooth longer than the basal. Disc of postpetiole without posteriorly curved spatulate hairs. Dorsum of mesonotum with a pair of erect simple hairs. Anterior and lateral margins of clypeus meet in angular comers in full-face view. Scape relatively short, SI 65-69. . . . . . Strumigenys angulata


 * Basal and third tooth on mandible triangular and acute, second tooth broad and bluntly rounded; basal longer than second or third teeth. Disc of postpetiole with posteriorly curved spatulate hairs. Dorsum of mesonotum without erect simple hairs. Anterior and lateral margins of clypeus meet through rounded curves in full-face view. Scape relatively long, SI 79-84. . . . . . Strumigenys pergandei

5
return to couplet #2
 * Postpetiole in profile with the ventral spongiform lobe absent or reduced to a minute nonspongiform vestige; lateral lobe absent or represented by a very thin carina of punctulate non-spongiform cuticle. Dorsum of pronotum with a pair of short stiff standing hairs anteriorly between the humeral pair . . . . . Strumigenys eggersi


 * Postpetiole in profile with the ventral spongiform lobe present, small but distinct; lateral lobe present but small, restricted to lower posterior comer of node. Dorsum of pronotum without standing hairs except for the humeral pair. . . . . . Strumigenys gundlachi

6
return to couplet #1
 * Petiole ventrally without trace of spongiform tissue. Pleurae, side of propodeum and disc of postpetiole reticulate-punctate. First gastral tergite finely and densely triolate-punctulate everywhere; first gastral sternite finely shagreenate or punctulate at least basally and laterally. . . . . . Strumigenys margaritae


 * Petiole ventrally with a conspicuous spongiform crest or curtain. Pleurae, side of propodeum and disc of postpetiole smooth. First gastral tergite smooth behind the basigastral costulae, usually entirely smooth but rarely with some sculpture near apex; first gastral sternite unsculptured or with sculpture only near apex . . . . . 7

7
return to couplet #6
 * Clypeus in anterior view with an apicodorsal series of 4-6 stout standing long hairs that radiate from the apex like the ribs of a fan. In profile clypeal dorsum with a pair of very long wire-like hairs that arise at about the midlength; each of these hairs is inclined posteriorly from just above its base, then curves smoothly upwards so that at least the apical half of the shaft is directed vertically or nearly so . . . . . 8


 * Clypeus in anterior view without an apicodorsal series of stout standing long hairs that radiate like the ribs of a fan. In profile clypeal dorsum without long wire-like hairs arising at about the midlength; without hairs that incline posteriorly from just above the base then curve vertically . . . . . 9

8
return to couplet #7
 * Fan of long hairs that radiates from clypeus apicodorsally strongly bulbous at their apices; in profile these bulbous-tipped hairs distinctly curved posteriorly. . . . . . Strumigenys ornata


 * Fan of long hairs that radiates from clypeus apicodorsally simple at their apices; in profile these hairs not obviously curved posteriorly. . . . . . Strumigenys dietrichi

9
return to couplet #7
 * With head in full-face view and mandibles fully closed the masticatory margin without a distinct diastema basally. If basal lamella is concealed by clypeus at full closure then gap between basal tooth and anterior margin of clypeus is shorter than length of basal tooth. If basal lamella is exposed at full closure then diastema between basal tooth and basal lamella is absent or distinctly shorter than length of basal tooth . . . . . 10


 * With head in full-face view and mandibles fully closed the masticatory margin with a distinct diastema basally. If basal lamella is concealed by clypeus at full closure then gap between basal tooth and anterior margin of clypeus is greater than length of basal tooth. If basal lamella is exposed at full closure then diastema between basal tooth and basal lamella is distinctly longer than length of basal tooth . . . . . 21

10
return to couplet #9
 * Dorsal surface of fully closed mandible basally with a very distinct sharp transverse edge or rim running across the width of the blade, parallel to and in front of the anterior clypeal margin. Pronotum sharply marginate dorsolaterally, the dorsum transversely flattened and unsculptured. First gastral tergite without standing hairs of any form. (Cosmopolitan tramp species) . . . . . Strumigenys membranifera


 * Dorsal surface of fully closed mandible basally without a transverse edge or rim running across the width of the blade parallel to the anterior clypeal margin. Pronotum not marginate dorsolaterally, the dorsum transversely convex and sculptured. First gastral tergite with standing hairs of some form present. . . . . . 11

11
return to couplet #10
 * With head in full-face view hairs that project from the lateral clypeal margin fine, conspicuously J-shaped and curved posteriorly. . . . . . Strumigenys ohioensis


 * With head in full-face view hairs that project from the lateral clypeal margin variable in form but not J-shaped and curved or inclined anteriorly . . . . . 12

12
return to couplet #11
 * Leading edge of scape with a row of conspicuous projecting curved hairs of which one or more, distal to the subbasal bend, distinctly curves toward the base of the scape . . . . . 13


 * Leading edge of scape with all projecting hairs curved toward the apex of the scape; entirely lacking hairs that curve toward the base of the scape . . . . . 17

13
return to couplet #12
 * Apical portion of first gastral tergite subopaque, densely sculptured with fine reticulation and striolation; same area on first gastral sternite similarly sculptured. Propodeal dorsum predominantly smooth and shining. . . . . . Strumigenys californica


 * Apical portions of first gastral tergite and sternite smooth and shining, without reticulate or striolate sculpture. Propodeal dorsum punctate to reticulate-punctate . . . . . 14

14
return to couplet #13
 * Basal lamella of mandible followed immediately by a row of 7 coarse conical teeth, without trace of a diastema. Anterior clypeal margin shallowly concave. Dorsum of head close to occipital margin with a transverse row of 4 hairs that are differentiated from the ground-pilosity, being longer, more erect and more slender. With head in full-face view an apicoscrobal hair present, stout simple and curved anteriorly. . . . . . Strumigenys rostrata


 * Basal lamella of mandible followed by a small diastema (distinctly shorter than length of basal tooth), distal to which is a row of 5 small acute teeth. Anterior clypeal margin transverse to shallowly convex. Dorsum of head close to occipital margin without slender hairs that are differentiated from the ground-pilosity. With head in full-face view apicoscrobal hair absent. . . . . . 15