Strumigenys consanii

Longino (Ants of Costa Rica) speculated this ant could be arboreal as it had been collected from under epiphytes. A subsequent collection was obtained from a litter sample in mature forest, which suggests arboreal nesting of Strumigenys consanii is adventitious.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys elongata-group. Within the group the combination of characters noted in the description will immediately isolate consanii. In all other species the following contrasting characters are present.

1 Cephalic dorsum with only a single pair of short erect hairs, near the occipital margin.

2 Ventral surface of petiole without a spongiform lobe beneath the node.

3 Disc of postpetiole mostly or entirely reticulate-punctate.

4 Basigastral costulae fine but conspicuous.

5 Standing hairs on first gastral tergite either flagellate, remiform, or otherwise modified; not as described above.

Longino (Ants of Costa Rica) - Apical fork of mandible with no intercalary teeth; mandible with no preapical teeth; postpetiole swollen, its dorsum smooth and shining; setae on gaster straight, not bent or coachwhip-like.

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

Nomenclature

 *  consanii. Strumigenys consanii Brown, 1954c: 192 (w.) COSTA RICA. See also: Bolton, 2000: 509.

Worker
Bolton (2000) - TL 3.0-3.2, HL 0.66-0.71, HW 0.52-0.55, CI 77-79, ML 0.41-0.42, MI 59-63, SL 0.45-0.50, SI 85-91, PW 0.32-0.34, AL 0.76-0.78 (3 measured).

Cephalic dorsum with two pairs of erect slender hairs, one near highest point of vertex, the other near occipital margin. Mesopleuron and metapleuron mostly smooth. Declivity of propodeum with a narrow lamella subtending the spine, its posterior (free) margin concave. Ventral surface of petiole with a cuticular carina below the peduncle that may appear punctulate but is not spongiform; posteriorly, below the node, there is a small spongiform lobe. Disc of postpetiole glassy smooth. Basigastral costulae vestigial. Standing hairs on first gastral tergite fine and simple, short stiff and erect, pointed or truncated apically.

Type Material
Bolton (2000) - Holotype and paratype workers, COSTA RICA: La Palma, 1500 m. (Tristan) [examined].