Strumigenys levana

Known from litter-samples from a number of forest habitats.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the lutron complex in the Strumigenys arnoldi-group. S. levana is distinguished from other species in the arnoldi-group by the presence of 4 antennal segments, distinct longitudinal costulae on the pronotal disc, and absence of a pronotal humeral hair.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 *  levana. Strumigenys levana Fisher, in Bolton, 2000: 632 (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Holotype. TL 1.6, HL 0.37, HW 0.36, CI 95, ML 0.16, MI 43, SL 0.22, SI 62, PW 0.20, AL 0.41. Characters of lutron-complex. Mandible blade narrow, linear, outcurved; without intercalary denticles between the apical fork teeth. Right mandible with a short distal preapical tooth and a spiniform proximal preapical tooth located at about the apical third of the length; left mandible only with the spiniform proximal preapical tooth. Preocular lamina broad, projecting below the antennal insertion. Anterior clypeal margin with broad spoon-shaped hairs directed dorsally. Dorsum of head behind clypeus reticulate-punctate and with numerous broadly scale-like to spoon-shaped hairs on anterior two-thirds. Dorsum of head with a transverse row of 4 hairs close to the occipital margin. Upper scrobe margin with a continuous row of scale-like to spoon-shaped hairs; apicoscrobal hair absent. Eye very small, with 3 ommatidia in total and situated just above the ventral scrobe margin. Antenna with 4 segments. Leading edge of scape a dorsoventrally flattened convex lamella with a row of projecting scale-like to spoon-shaped hairs. In profile, the promesonotum slightly convex; propodeal dorsum shallowly convex anteriorly, sloping posteriorly to the declivity. Propodeal teeth very short, mostly incorporated in the lamella, with only a small point projecting. Sides of alitrunk smooth to superficially reticulate-punctate. Pronotal disc with distinct longitudinal costulae and not sculptured as posterior dorsum of head. In between costulae, pronotum smooth or with fine punctulate sculpture; remainder of dorsal alitrunk and at least the upper half of the propodeal declivity reticulate-punctate to alveolate. Pronotal humeral hair absent. Mesonotum with 2 pairs of erect hairs. Ground-pilosity of dorsal alitrunk consisting of scattered small erect hairs. Dorsal surface of petiole node with faint reticulate-punctate sculpture that is almost effaced; the postpetiole glassy smooth. Petiole, postpetiole and gaster with clavate hairs. In profile the petiole with a well developed spongiform lamella. Postpetiole with well developed lateral and ventral spongiform lobes. Base of first gastral tergite with fine costulae radiating on each side of a broad central clear area, remainder of gaster more or less smooth and shiny. Color dull yellow to pale brown.

Paratype. TL 1.6-1.7, HL 0.38-0.39, HW 0.34-0.35, CI 88-91, ML 0.17-0.18, MI 43-47, SL 0.21-0.23, SI 62-66, PW 0.20-0.21, AL 0.39-0.41 (5 measured). As holotype.

Measurements of non-paratypic material extend the range shown by the type-series: HL 0.39-0.42, HW 0.35-0.38, CI 91, ML 0.16-0.18, MI 41-42, SL 0.24, SI 63-68 (2 measured).

Type Material
Holotype worker, Madagascar: Provo Toamasina, F.C. Sandranantitra, 18°02.9'S, 49°05.5'E, 450 m., 21-24.i.1999, sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood) #102 (26)-3 (H. J. Ratsirarson).

Paratypes. 8 workers with same data as holotype but coded (21)-1, (20)-2, (25)-3, (6)-3, (8)-3.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65
 * Fisher B. L. 2003. Formicidae, ants. Pp. 811-819 in: Goodman, S. M.; Benstead, J. P. (eds.) 2003. The natural history of Madagascar. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, xxi + 1709 pp.