Strumigenys simulans group

Strumigenys simulans group Bolton (2000)

Comprised of two endemic species from Cuba and Hispaniola.

Neotropical

 * Strumigenys economoi
 * Strumigenys simulans

Worker Diagnosis
Booher et al. (2019) – Adapted from Bolton (2000). Basal tooth follows basal lamella without a diastema. Mandibles with 9-10 serially dentate short conical interlocking teeth (in Strumigenys simulans there may be a small space between teeth when mandibles are closed). Basal lamella of mandibles with its anterior margin and part of its mesial margin visible immediately in front of the anterior clypeal margin in full-face view with mandibles fully closed. Lamella slightly taller than basal tooth.

Clypeus with anterior margin between mandible insertions broadly to narrowly concave, the anterolateral angles rounded and the lateral margins weakly divergent posteriorly. Outer margins of mandibles intersect anterior clypeal margin mesad of the anterolateral clypeal angles. Lateral clypeal margins project laterally far beyond outer margins of mandibles and posteriorly are confluent with the expanded frontal lobes, the outline only interrupted by a minute impression where they meet. Clypeal dorsum with numerous very short fine setae that are either erect or adpressed; lateral margins of clypeus fringed with similar setae.

Frontal lobes and frontal carinae strongly expanded laterally, their dorsolateral margins almost straight, weakly divergent posteriorly and in full-face view continuous with the dorsolateral margins of the occipital lobes.

Preocular carina not visible in full-face view, completely concealed by the expanded frontal lobe and frontal carina.

Ventrolateral margin of head not marginate immediately in front of eye, with a shallowly concave margination at the postbuccal impression; the latter forming a conspicuous notch in profile. Cuticle of side of head within the scrobe smooth in the upper half.

Scape short, SI 61, but quite slender, broadening from base to about the midlength and without a subbasal angle; not dorsoventrally flattened and with a weakly defined leading edge. Antenna with only 4 segments (funicular segments 3-5 fused but can be seen under high magnification when backlit). Leading edge of scape without projecting setae of any form. Pronotum not marginate dorsolaterally, the dorsum convex and rounding broadly into the sides.

Propodeum with a pair of triangular teeth that are subtended by a narrow lamella.

Spongiform appendages fully developed, with a ventral curtain and lateral lobes on the petiole, ventral lobes on the postpetiole and a large spongiform pad basally on the first gastral sternite. Lateral lobes of the postpetiole cuticular flanges to cuticular-spongiform flanges.