Strumigenys panamensis

Strumigenys panamensis is known only from its type locality, Soberania National Park in Gamboa, Panama Province. This species was collected from leaf-litter samples taken in a successional rain forest containing Strumigenys cincinnata, Strumigenys denticulata, and Strumigenys perparva. The natural history of S. panamensis remains unknown.

Identification
Sosa-Calvo egt al. (2006) - Strumigenys panamensis is a member of the Strumigenys alberti-group and is most similar to Strumigenys fridericimuelleri, Strumigenys nigrescens, and Strumigenys parsauga. Strumigenys panamensis can be distinguished from these species by the presence of small eyes and promesonotum with a complete median longitudinal carina.

The S. alberti group includes seven exclusively New World species. Of these seven species, Strumigenys conspersa, Strumigenys furtiva, and Strumigenys sublucida are known only from South America. S. alberti and S. fridericimuelleri are apparently more widely distributed, occurring in both Central and South America. Strumigenys nigrescens and S. parsauga are known only from Central America. Strumigenys panamensis shares with S. parsauga the reduced eyes (about 4 facets in total), but can be distinguished by promesonotal dorsum bearing a median longitudinal carina and dorsum of propodeum reticulate (smooth in S. parsauga). With S. fridericimuelleri and S. nigrescens, S. pananiensis shares the fine median longitudinal carina on the promesonotal dorsum, the anterior clypeal margin, which in full face view is shallowly convex between the points where outer margins of the fully closed mandibules intersect the clypeal margin, and the sculpture on the dorsum of the mesosoma (most similar to S. nigrescens). Strumigenys panamensis can be separated from S. fridericimuelleri and S. nigrescens by the compound eye composed of 4 facets (approximately 10 facets in fridericimuelleri and nigrescens), and the disc of the petiolar node slightly broader than long and with the sides only slightly converging anteriorly (intermediate between fridericinnielleri and nigrescens).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Panama.

Nomenclature

 *  panamensis. Pyramica panamensis Sosa-Calvo, Shattuck & Schultz, 2006: 817, figs. 11, 12, 15 (w.) PANAMA. Combination in Strumigenys: unpublished.

Worker
Holotype: TL 1.8, HL 0.50, HW 0.35, CI 70, ML 0.11, MI 22, SL 0.28, SI 80, PW 0.23, AL 0.48.

Possessing characters of alberti complex. Masticatory margin of mandibles with a series of acutely triangular apical teeth (mandibles closed in holotype and basal region not visible). Anterior clypeal margin broadly and very shallowly convex between points where outer margins of closed mandibles intersect clypeal margin. Apicoscrobal hair flagellated, long, and fine. Eye very small, with only 2 ommatidia in longest row and only 4 in total. Promesonotum with a well-developed median longitudinal carina that extends through the entire length of pronotum and most of mesonotum. Pronotum dorsally entirely sculptured with fine punctation. Petiolar node in dorsal view slightly broader than long, with sides slightly converging anteriorly. Lateral spongiform lobes of node extending forward almost to anterolateral angles.

Type Material
Holotype worker, labeled "Panama: Panama Prov.: Gamboa, Pipeline Road between Rios Frijoles and La Seda; 72 m, 6 vi 2002 to 8 vi 2002; litter sample; C. J. Marshall," ", No. 00410482."