Strumigenys nitens

A forest inhabitant that has been found in litter samples.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys nitens-group. S. nitens differs from Strumigenys convexiceps as follows. In nitens the clypeus and upper scrobe margins have fine faint longitudinal striolate sculpture, traces of which are also present on the cephalic dorsum between the frontal carinae; these areas are at most feebly shagreenate in convexiceps. Basigastral costulae are visible on the limbus but only extend faintly onto the extreme base of the tergite in nitens, whereas in convexiceps they extend well beyond the basal quarter of the tergite. Dorsum of head in nitens with elongate spatulate hairs that curve toward the midline. There are no such hairs in convexiceps but the vertex has a few short erect simple hairs: a pair (or possibly a transverse row of 4) in front of the highest point of the vertex, and a pair close to the occipital margin. First gastral tergite with numerous long fine curved hairs in nitens, but with very sparse (apparently only 2 pairs) of short erect hairs in convexiceps.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Bahamas, Cuba, Greater Antilles.

Nomenclature

 *  nitens. Strumigenys (Codiomyrmex) nitens Santschi, 1932e: 413, fig. 2 (w.) CUBA. Combination in Codiomyrmex Weber, 1934a: 52; in Dorisidris: Brown, 1948e: 116; in Pyramica: Bolton, 1999: 1672; in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 125. See also: Bolton, 2000: 208.

Booher et al. (2019) – The type of S. nitens is missing from its mount at NHMB, so we rely on Santschi’s original description of the species as a guide to designate a neotype. Bolton (2000) redescribed S. nitens from specimens collected during later expeditions (Strumigenys caiman in the present study), but his description was at odds with the original description (Santschi 1932), specifically where dental count is concerned: Santschi noted that the total dental count was five, with two short teeth along the inner margin of the mandible and three teeth apically (the upper two long, and the lower one shorter). An illustration of the mandibles in full face view an oblique antero-dorsal view accompanied the description (reproduced in Fig. 2a). It appears that the third tooth from the base, or uppermost apical tooth, is shifted toward the base, away from the mandibular apex. This matches the specimens that we describe as S. nitens, but not those of S. caiman, where the third tooth from the base is shifted forward, in line with the three other apical teeth when in full-face view (see Fig. 2c). Additionally, in S. nitens, the diastema between the lower teeth at the mandibular apex is interrupted by two minute intercalary denticles (see Fig. 2b), which may have been overlooked by Santschi (1932).

Worker
Booher et al. (2019) – Neotype: HL = 0.47; HW = 0.36; ML = 0.16; PW = 0.23; SL = 0.23; FL 0.33; CT = 0.30; EL = 0.06; TL = 2.02; WL = 0.52; CI = 77; MI = 33; SI = 62. Non-types (n=6): HL = 0.43-0.50 (0.48); HW = 0.32-0.38 (0.36); ML = 0.13-0.16 (0.15); PW = 0.22-0.25 (0.23); SL = 0.19-0.24 (0.22); FL = 0.27-0.36 (0.34); CT = 0.28-0.32 (0.3); EL = 0.06-0.07 (0.07); TL = 1.84-2.19 (2.06); WL = 0.44-0.56 (0.53); CI = 74-78 (75); MI = 30-33 (32); SI = 59-68 (61).

Mandibles in full face view and at full closure elongate-triangular, strongly tapering apically, and longer than the apical antennal segment in full face view; MI 30-33. Distalmost third tooth of the inner mandibular margin and extreme apices of mandibles engage, and a broad subovate gap is present between them through which the broad labral lobes are visible. Inner mandibular margin with two conical teeth whose apices are widely separated in addition to a third elongate-triangular tooth whose apices touch at full closure; the first about one-quarter of the margin length from the base, the second about one-half way along the margin, and the third at three-quarters the way along the margin. Apex of mandibles two teeth arranged vertically, with the upper long and spiniform and the lower elongate-triangular; two intercalary denticles arise between these apical teeth along the margin of the apicoventral tooth (see Fig. 2b). Clypeus and upper scrobe margins have fine faint longitudinal striolate-punctate sculpture, traces of which are also present on the cephalic dorsum between the frontal carinae. Antennal scapes long: SI 58-68. Lateral margins of the head roughly parallel and the posterior margin shallowly concave in full-face view. Dorsum of head with elongate, spatulate setae which curve toward the midline. Scrobal margin with a single pair of short slightly expanded hairs at apicoscrobal position. Compound eye large: diameter greater than to the maximum width of the antennal scape. In profile view, faint punctate sculpture present between the compound eye and the postbuccal impression.

Mesosoma elongate: WL 2.3 times PW. Uniformly smooth and shining, with faint traces of sculpture around the propodeal spiracle and lamellae. Dorsal surface with elongate, spatulate setae which curve toward the midline.

Petiolar node narrow, roughly 1/2 as broad as postpetiole in dorsal view. Petiolar peduncle covered in light punctate sculpture, but dorsal surface of petiole and postpetiole smooth and shining. Dorsal surfaces of petiole and postpetiole with elongate, spatulate setae.

Basigastral costulae present only on the limbus and the extreme base of the first gastral tergite, the remainder of which is smooth and shining. First gastral tergite with numerous long, fine, tapering setae.

Head, mesosoma, gaster, and appendages uniformly light reddish or yellowish brown.

Type Material
Booher et al. (2019) – Strumigenys nitens Santschi 1932: 413, fig. 2. Neotype worker: CUBA: Holguín: 2km N La Melba, 20° 28´ N, 74° 49´ W, 400 m, 22.viii.2001, P. S. Ward#14424-5, sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), rainforest (CASENT0106246 / MCZ-ENT00681484) [MCZC].

Lost type, as noted by Bolton (2000) - Specimen missing from mount, observed July, 1996. Holotype worker, CUBA: Province de Pinar del Rio, Sierra del Rosario, 17.xi.1931 (A. Bierig).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Alayo D. P. 1974. Introduccion al estudio de los Himenopteros de Cuba. Superfamilia Formicoidea. Academia de Ciencias de Cuba. Instituto de Zoologia. Serie Biologica no.53: 58 pp. La Habana.
 * Bolton B. 1999. Ant genera of the tribe Dacetonini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Natural History 33: 1639-1689.
 * Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65
 * Booher D. B., M. M. Prebus, and D. Lubertazzi. 2019. A taxonomic revision of the Strumigenys nitens and simulans groups (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), two Caribbean radiations of leaf litter ants. Zootaxa 4656: 335-358.
 * Brown W. L., Jr. 1950. Revision of the ant tribe Dacetini: II. Glamyromyrmex Wheeler and closely related small genera. Trans. Am. Entomol. Soc. 76: 27-36.
 * Deyrup M. 1997. Dacetine ants of the Bahamas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bahamas Journal of Science 5(1): 2-6.
 * Deyrup M., L. Davis, and S. Buckner. 1998. Composition of the ant fauna of three Bahamian islands. Proceedings of the seventh symposium on the natural history of the Bahamas. 23-32. Bahamian Field Station, San Salvador, Bahamas
 * Fontanla Rizo J.L. 1997. Lista preliminar de las hormigas de Cuba. Cocuyo 6: 18-21.
 * Fontenla J. L., and J. Alfonso-Simonetti. 2018. Classification of Cuban ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) into functional groups. Poeyana Revista Cubana de Zoologia 506: 21-30.
 * Fontenla Rizo J. L. 1997. Lista preliminar de las hormigas de Cuba (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Cocuyo 6: 18-21.
 * Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
 * Portuondo E. F., and J. L. Reyes. 2002. Mirmecofauna de los macizos montañosos de Sierra Maestra y Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa. Cocuyo 12: 10-13
 * Portuondo Ferrer, E. and J. Fernandez Triana. Biodiversidad del orden Hymenoptera en Los Macizos Montanosos de Cuba Oriental. Boletin S.E.A. 35:121-136.
 * Reyes, J. L. "Inventario de la colección de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) del Centro Oriental de Ecosistemas y Biodiversidad, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba." Boletín de la Sociedad Aragonesa 36 (2005): 279-283.
 * Santschi F. 1932. Quelques fourmis inédites de l'Amérique centrale et Cuba. Revista de Entomologia (Rio de Janeiro). 2: 410-414.