Strumigenys simoni

A very successful and widely distributed species, simoni ranges throughout eastern and southern Africa. It has also been found in Nigeria but otherwise there are no records of its presence in West or central Africa, so this sample may represent an introduction or a mislabelled series. It is also known from Mauritius where it was most probably introduced by man. (Bolton 1983)

Identification
Bolton (1983) - A member of the Strumigenys lujae-group. S. simoni is separated from Strumigenys dotaja by the characters tabulated under the latter name. It is quickly distinguished from Strumigenys lujae and the related Strumigenys concolor and Strumigenys serrula by the presence in these three of dense blanketing reticulate-punctate sculpture on the promesonotum, and it is separated from Strumigenys maynei, Strumigenys geoterra and Strumigenys sulumana by those species' lack of cephalic flagellate hairs, which are very conspicuous in simoni. The minute Strumigenys miccata is readily separated, not only by its enlarged basal series of mandibular denticles and small size, but also by its possession of short clavate hairs at the pronotal humeri and lack of a metanotal impression. In Strumigenys simoni the long humeral flagellate hairs are obvious and the metanotal impression broad. Most samples of Strumigenys ludovici are easily distinguished from simoni by the presence in the former of a series of 4-8 enlarged denticles basally on the mandibular masticatory margin. However, in some ludovici series the denticles are not nearly so sharply defined as is usual, and these may be more difficult to tell apart. The following contrasting characters serve to separate the two, the first character noted is usually sufficient alone.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Malagasy Region: Madagascar, Mauritius.

Biology
Brown (1952) - S. simoni is very widely distributed south of the Sahara. It ranges from Makapan in the Transvaal and Angola to Eritrea and French Guinea. Dr. Bequaert, who is quite familiar with African vegetation, has checked the localities for this ant very carefully with me. From the data, it appears that simoni avoids the regions of true rain- and gallery-forest quite consistently, although crossing the political boundaries of the Belgian Congo at several places. This form is at home in the more open forest and savannah covering such a large part of the continent. Colonies are found in rotten wood, under stones, and in the soil cover. This is perhaps the most familiar, and certainly the most-named, species of Serrastruma.

Nomenclature

 *  simoni. Strumigenys simoni Emery, 1895h: 42, pl. 2, fig. 21 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA. Combination in S. (Trichoscapa): Santschi, 1913b: 258 (in key); in S. (Cephaloxys): Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 920; Emery, 1924d: 324; in Smithistruma (Serrastruma): Brown, 1948e: 107; in Serrastruma: Brown, 1952e: 82; in Pyramica: Bolton, 1999: 1673; in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 128. Senior synonym of biconvexa, boerorum, cliens, cognata, escherichi, fusciventris, limbata and material of the unavailable name obscuriventris referred here: Brown, 1952e: 82; of raymondi: Bolton, 1983: 350. See also: Bolton, 2000: 318.
 * escherichi. Strumigenys escherichi Forel, 1910c: 261 (w.) ETHIOPIA. Combination in S. (Trichoscapa): Santschi, 1913b: 258 (in key); in S. (Cephaloxys): Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 919; Emery, 1924d: 324. Junior synonym of simoni: Brown, 1952e: 82.
 * cognata. Strumigenys cognata Santschi, 1911c: 362 (w.q.) ANGOLA. Santschi, 1913b: 258 (q.). Combination in S. (Trichoscapa): Santschi, 1913b: 258 (in key); in S. (Cephaloxys): Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 919. Subspecies of escherichi: Forel, 1913b: 317 (in text); Forel, 1916: 427. Junior synonym of simoni: Brown, 1952e: 82.
 * biconvexa. Strumigenys (Trichoscapa) biconvexa Santschi, 1913b:258 (in key) (w.q.) KENYA. Santschi, 1914b: 111 (w.q.). Combination in S. (Cephaloxys): Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 919. Junior synonym of simoni: Brown, 1952e: 82.
 * boerorum. Strumigenys (Trichoscapa) cognata st. boerorum Santschi, 1913b: 259 (in key) (w.) SOUTH AFRICA. Santschi, 1914e: 32 (q.). Combination in S. (Cephaloxys): Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 919. Subspecies of escherichi: Santschi, 1914e: 32. Junior synonym of simoni: Brown, 1952e: 82.
 * cliens. Strumigenys escherichi var. cliens Forel, 1913b: 317 (w.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. Combination in S. (Cephaloxys): Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 919. Junior synonym of simoni: Brown, 1952e: 82.
 * limbata. Strumigenys escherichi r. limbata Forel, 1913j: 222 (w.) ZIMBABWE. Arnold, 1917: 382 (q.). Combination in S. (Cephaloxys): Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 920. Junior synonym of simoni: Brown, 1952e: 82.
 * fusciventris. Strumigenys (Cephaloxys) escherichi var. fusciventris Emery, 1924d: 324, (w.) NIGERIA. [First available use of Strumigenys (Trichoscapa) escherichi st. cognata var. fusciventris Santschi, 1915c: 261; unavailable name.] Junior synonym of simoni: Brown, 1952e: 82.
 * raymondi. Strumigenys (Cephaloxys) raymondi Donisthorpe, 1946c: 778 (w.q.) MAURITIUS. Junior synonym of alluaudi: Brown, 1952e: 75; of simoni: Bolton, 1983: 350.

Worker
Bolton (1983) - TL 2.4-3.0, HL 0.54-0.64, HW 0.44-0.52, CI 74-85, ML 0.20-0.22, MI 33-39, SL 0.34-0.41, SI 76-86, PW 0.28-0.36, AL 0.64-0.75 (60 measured).

Mandibular denticles small even and very regular, without an enlarged basal series but often with the basalmost denticle somewhat enlarged. Upper scrobe margins conspicuous, forming a punctulate or granular flange which extends back to the apex of the scrobe before petering out, the margins each with a single long flagellate hair arising just behind the level of the eye and projecting laterally. Clypeus sculptured on the disc, finely punctulate or granular, or sometimes feebly striate, with sparse spatulate appressed hairs. False anterior clypeal margin with a row of spatulate hairs which project forwards over the mandibular bases. Ground-pilosity of head of scattered but distinctive anteriorly directed spatulate hairs which are decumbent to appressed. Dorsum of head behind highest point of vertex with two pairs of stout standing hairs which are anteriorly curved and apically clavate. Dorsum of head densely reticulate-punctate. Pronotum not marginate laterally, the pronotum and anterior portion of mesonotum convex and on a higher level than the propodeum, the posterior portion of the mesonotum sloping steeply down to the metanotal groove which is broadly and shallowly impressed. Propodeal dorsum shallowly convex, the teeth usually broad and strongly developed, with a conspicuous infradental lamella. Alitrunk pleurae smooth, devoid of sculpture or at most with punctulate vestiges peripherally. Sides of pronotum usually smooth but sometimes with one or two striae which extend onto the sides from the dorsum. Sculpture of pronotal dorsum variable, ranging from almost smooth with only vestiges of sculpture to quite strongly sculptured. Commonly the sculpture consists of few to several longitudinal to oblique fine costulae or striae on an almost or quite smooth surface. Variation away from this occurs either by reduction in number and intensity of the costulae or striae until the dorsum is almost unsculptured, or by intensification of the costulae or striae, or by the appearance of fine punctulation between them. However, in samples where punctulate sculpture occurs it is always very obviously secondary to the costulate or striate component, and in samples where the pronotum is smooth a median fine longitudinal carinula usually remains. Dorsal surfaces of mesonotum and propodeum finely and densely reticulate-punctate, as is the upper portion of the propodeal declivity between the teeth. Pronotum equipped at the humeri with a pair of long fine flagellate hairs, the mesonotum with a pair of stout curved hairs which which are clavate apically. Ground-pilosity of promesonotum consisting of a few scattered narrowly spatulate hairs which are appressed or nearly so. Spongiform appendages of pedicel segments well developed in profile, the subpetiolar appendage running the length of the segment; the ventral and lateral spongiform lobes of the postpetiole large, the former usually somewhat larger than the latter. Petiole node in dorsal view finely reticulate-punctate, the sculpture sometimes faint, broader than long and with a conspicuous posterior collar of spongiform material. Postpetiole smooth dorsally, with spongiform material posterolaterally and with a broad posterior strip. Base of first gastral tergite bordered with a lamellate strip upon which the basigastral costulae arise and run posteriorly for a short distance on the tergite proper. Petiole and postpetiole each with a single pair of stout hairs which are clavate apically, the first gastral tergite with 1-8 pairs of such hairs. Colour ranging from yellowish brown to blackish brown.

Type Material
Bolton (1983) - Holotype worker, SOUTH AFRICA: Transvaal, Makapan, 1893 (E. Simon). [examined].