Strumigenys manis

Well collected for a Strumigenys species, this is a rainforest ant is presently known only from litter samples.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys marginiventris-group. The smallest known species in the group, manis also has the shortest mandibles and scapes and is the only species to possess a preapical denticle in addition to the distal preapical tooth. No other species in the group has a reticulate-punctate postpetiole disc or completely lacks spongiform tissue ventrally on the petiole. In many ways manis resembles Strumigenys boneti (ludia-group), which is also known from Mexico, but boneti has a strong intercalary denticle and lacks a distal preapical tooth.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia, Mexico.

Nomenclature

 *  manis. Strumigenys manis Bolton, 2000: 542 (w.) MEXICO.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.5, HL 0.63, HW 0.52, CI 83, ML 0.42, MI 67, SL 0.46, SI 88, PW 0.30, AL 0.64. Mandible with a minute denticle just proximal of midlength; this denticle extremely small and difficult to see, only a fraction the length of the distal preapical tooth. Cephalic dorsum with 2 pairs of erect short hairs; one near highest point of vertex, the other close to the occipital margin. Apicoscrobal flagellate hair present (abraded in holotype). Pronotal humeral hair flagellate and a pair of flagellate hairs present on mesonotum. All standing hairs on waist segments and on first gastral tergite short and quite stout, simple to feebly remiform and curved or inclined posteriorly. Sides and dorsum of alitrunk densely reticulate-punctate everywhere; disc of postpetiole completely reticulate-punctate. First gastral tergite behind basigastral costulae more superficially reticulate-punctate than postpetiole, the surface weakly shining. Propodeal spines long and narrowly triangular, stoutly constructed and subtended by a narrow carina down the declivity. Ventral surface of petiole without a spongiform crest or curtain but with a small rounded cuticular process anteriorly. Lateral lobe of petiole feebly developed, scarcely more than an extension of the posterior collar onto the side of the node.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Mexico: Vera Cruz, Tuxtias, 10 km. NNW Sontecomapan, 18°35'N, 95°05'W, 200 m., 20.iii.1985, sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), rainforest, #7333-18 (P. S. Ward).