Strumigenys dapsilis

Identification
Bolton (2000) - Within the group dapsilis is easily identified by its diastemate mandible with unique dentition, and presence of very dense recurved spatulate pilosity on the disc of the postpetiole. Apart from this it is the only species that combines tiny eyes with long slender scapes, a complete lack of standing hairs on dorsal head and alitrunk, absence of humeral hairs, mostly smooth pleurae and side of propodeum, and a smooth postpetiole disc.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil.

Nomenclature

 *  dapsilis. Pyramica dapsilis Bolton, 2000: 217, fig. 148 (w.) BRAZIL. Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 118

Worker
Holotype. TL 1.8, HL 0.50, HW 0.35, CI 70, ML 0.09, MI 18, SL 0.28, SI 80, PW 0.24, AL 0.47. Mandible with a distinct diastema between basal lamella and basal tooth. Basal tooth extremely reduced and teeth 3 and 5 from the base are low broadly rounded plates; dentition discussed under species-group notes above. Anterior clypeal margin transverse. Eye minute, of a single om matidium only (see note on paratype, below). Dorsum of head entirely clothed with quite large curved spoon- shaped hairs; without a transverse row of erect simple hairs behind highest point of vertex. Dorsolateral margins of head in full-face view with anteriorly curved spoon-shaped hairs only; without a differentiated apicoscrobal hair. Scapes in dorsal view slender, not strongly dorsoventrally flattened nor expanded; distal of the subbasal bend the scape of almost uniform width to the apex. Dorsal alitrunk with dense curved spatulate to spoon-shaped ground-pilosity; pronotal humeral hair absent, the entire dorsum without standing pilosity. Dorsal alitrunk entirely reticulate-punctate. Pleurae and side of propodeum mostly smooth and shining, only the narrow area behind the level of the propodeal spiracle punctate. Propodeal teeth minute and subtended by a short narrow lamella. Ventral surface of petiole in profile with an extremely narrow subspongiform carina; lateral spongiform lobe of petiole node small. Postpetiole with distinct lateral and ventral spongiform lobes and the first gastral sternite in profile with a narrow basal pad. Dorsal surfaces of petiole and postpetiole very densely clothed with posteriorly curved short spatulate hairs. On the postpetiole the posteriormost row of these hairs arches backwards over the posterior spongiform collar of the segment. Both waist segments lack standing hairs of any form. Base of first gastral tergite with posteriorly curved spatulate hairs; on the midline of the sclerite these spatulate hairs occur over about the basal half of the segment. Elsewhere on the first tergite pilosity is longer and fine, sinuate or even short-flagellate. Dorsum of petiole node broader than long, feebly reticulate; disc of postpetiole smooth, the surface to some extent obscured by the density of the spatulate pilosity. Basigastral costulae sharply defined but short, the gaster otherwise smooth.

Paratype. TL 1.8, HL 0.50, HW 0.34, CI 68, ML 0.09, MI 18, SL 0.28, SI 82, PW 0.24, AL 0.48. As holotype but eye consists of 2 small ommatidia in total.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Brazil: Sao Paulo, Sales6polis, E. B. Boraceia, 3-5.v.1996 (Brandao, Agosti, Diniz, Silvestre & Yamamoto). Paratype. 1 worker with same data as holotype.