Strumigenys pasisops

This species is known from only three workers, all from Monteverde cloud forest. Two workers were collected in a rotten log by P. S. Ward, and one worker was collected in a sifted litter sample, taken as part of a class project taught by J. T. Longino. (Longino, Ants of Costa Rica)

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the crassicornis-complex in the Strumigenys gundlachi group. Averaging slightly larger than the upper range of Strumigenys myllorhapha this is the largest known species of the crassicomis-complex. Its mandibles are decidedly shorter than myllorhapha (MI 44 versus MI 61-67 in the latter) and its eyes are much larger. In the largest myllorhapha workers the eyes have about 16 ommatidia (4 in the longest row) and a maximum diameter ca 0.17 X HW.

Longino (Ants of Costa Rica) - Mandibles in full-face view linear, elongate and narrow; ventral surface of petiole without spongiform tissue; leading edge of scape with freely projecting hairs; inner margin of mandible with a clearly defined submedian tooth near the midlength; labral lobes long, trigger hairs at apices of lobes short; preapical denticles gradually decreasing in size; mandibles relatively short (MI 33-45); propodeal suture moderately impressed; total head length greater than 0.90mm; eyes relatively large, with 24 or more ommatidia in total, with 6-7 in the longest row; scapes relatively long (SI 66-67).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Costa Rica.

Nomenclature

 *  pasisops. Pyramica pasisops Bolton, 2000: 192 (w.) COSTA RICA. Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 125

Worker
HOLOTYPE. TL 2.8, HL 0.72, HW 0.51, CI 71, ML 0.32, MI 44, SL 0.34, SI 67, PW 0.36, AL 0.78. Characters of crassicornis complex. Mandible with 7 – 9 denticles distal of the submedian tooth, 2 - 3 denticles proximal of it. Apex of mandible with 4 minute intercalary denticles between apicodorsal and apicoventral teeth. Median third of outer margin of mandible shallowly concave in full-face view. Eye relatively large, with 6 - 7 ommatidia in the longest row and 24 or more ommatidia in total; maximum eye diameter ca 0.21-0.22 X HW. Leading edge of relatively long and slender scape evenly shallowly convex, its main hairs flattened and none conspicuously curved toward the base of the scape. Apicoscrobal hair flattened. Cephalic dorsum with a single pair of erect hairs, close to occipital margin. Pronotal humeral hair stiff; a pair of erect stout hairs present on mesonotum. Head and alitrunk reticulate-punctate everywhere except for pleurae, which are mostly smooth and shining.

PARATYPE. TL 2.9, HL 0.70, HW 0.50, CI 71, ML 0.31, MI 44, SL 0.33, SI 66, PW 0.36, AL 0.76.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Costa Rica: Puntarenas Prov., Monteverde, 1500 m., 26.v.1979, ex rotten log, montane rainforest, #3530 (P. S. Ward).

Paratypes. 1 worker with same data as holotype. 1 worker, Costa Rica: Puntarenas, Monteverde, 10°l8'N, 84°48'W, 13-1600 m., Univ. Calif. EAP 1991, wet forest ex sifted leaf litter (no collector' s name).