Strumigenys talpa

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Nearctic Region: United States.



Nomenclature

 *  talpa. Strumigenys (Cephaloxys) talpa Weber, 1934b: 63, fig. 1 (w.) U.S.A. Brown, 1953g: 77 (q.m.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1955a: 141 (l.). Combination in S. (Trichoscapa): Smith, M.R., 1947f: 587; Creighton, 1950a: 310; in Smithistruma: Smith, M.R., 1951a: 828; Brown, 1953g: 76; in Pyramica: Bolton, 1999: 1673; in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 128. Senior synonym of venatrix: Wesson, 1949: 21. See also: Wilson, 1954: 486; Bolton, 2000: 132.
 * venatrix. Strumigenys (Cephaloxys) venatrix Wesson, L.G. & Wesson, R.G., 1939: 103, pl. 3, fig. 5 (w.) U.S.A. Combination in S. (Trichoscapa): Smith, M.R., 1943f: 307. Junior synonym of talpa: Wesson, 1949: 21; Brown, 1953g: 76.

Worker
TL 2.0-2.2, HL 0.53-0.60, HW 0.36-0.39, CI 64-69, ML 0.08-0.11, MI 15-19, SL 0.25-0.29, SI 66-76, PW 0.23-0.26, AL 0.50-0.59 (20 measured).

Fully closed mandibles with a basal gap between anterior clypeal margin and basal tooth that is distinctly longer than length of basal tooth. Anterior clypeal margin very evenly and shallowly broadly convex. In full-face view lateral clypeal margins with a continuous fringe of distinctly projecting, anteriorly curved hairs that are spatulate to very feebly spoon-shaped. Row of hairs on clypeal dorsum closest to lateral margin also project outward and curve anteriorly above the principal row; these hairs shorter than the principal marginal hairs but longer than those situated more centrally on the dorsum. Anterior clypeal margin without hairs that curve away from the midline. Dorsum of clypeus densely clothed with small spatulate hairs that curve anteriorly or anterolaterally. Dorsolateral margin of head with a single projecting flagellate hair, in apicoscrobal position. Dorsum of head close to occipital margin with 1-2 pairs of flagellate hairs. Flagellate hairs also present at pronotal humeri, on pronotal dorsum and mesonotum (1 pair each), on first gastral tergite and dorsal (outer) surfaces of hind tibia and basitarsus. Basigastral costulae strongly developed, extending one-third or more the length of the tergite.

Type Material
Holotype worker, U. S. A. Illinois, Herod, 12.x.1933 (T.H. Frison & H.H. Ross) [not seen].