Strumigenys extirpa

Few collections have been made of this apparently arboreal species.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys tococae-group. Like Strumigenys tococae extirpa has the first gastral tergite smooth behind the basigastral costulae. Unlike that species extirpa lacks flagellate hairs on the waist segments and gaster.

Longino (Ants of Costa Rica) - Apical fork of mandible with two intercalary teeth; mandible with two pronounced preapical teeth; eye large, with over 35 facets; dorsal and ventral teeth of propodeal lamella pronounced, acute; gaster smooth with basal costulae; gaster covered with closely appressed, spatulate setae.

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

Nomenclature

 *  extirpa. Strumigenys extirpa Bolton, 2000: 564 (w.) COSTA RICA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 3.3, HL 0.80, HW 0.59, CI 74, ML 0.47, MI 59, SL 0.53, SI 90, PW 0.38, AL 0.84. First gastral tergite smooth and shining behind basigastral costulae, the sclerite with numerous appressed spatulate hairs that are directed posteromedially and are quite distinct. First gastral tergite without flagellate hairs though a few occur on segments 2 to apex. Petiole and postpetiole with spatulate hairs but lacking flagellates. Maximum diameter of eye 0.12, with 8-9 ommatidia in the longest row. Distance separating preapical teeth on mandible greater than length of distal preapical tooth. Apicoscrobal hair absent. Propodeal spine longer than the acutely triangular tooth at base of declivity; in profile distance between the two down declivity greater than the length of the upper spine. Postpetiole reticulate-punctate, without superimposed longitudinal costulae. Ventral spongiform crest of petiole slender, deepest posteriorly.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Costa Rica: Heredia, Est. Biol. La Selva, 50-150 m., 10°26'N, 84°01'W, 4.vii.1993, INBio-OET, Pentaclethra macroloba, FPM/08/28 (no collector's name).