Strumigenys schulzi Emery 1894

Strumigenys schulzi Emery, 1894 [27] (Figure 4) Geographical Distribution. From southern Mexico to southern Brazil. Material examined: BRAZIL, Acre, Porto Walter, 8.270.158, − 72.740.791, 19.iii.1997, on Epipedobates diet, (J. Cadwell) [one worker]. Bahia, São José da Vitória, − 15.061.667, Puaias, − 39.344.167, 22.v.2000, (J.R. Maia dos Santos) [one worker]. Uruçuca, Serra Grande, − 14.445.833, − 39.045.556, Pasto, (J.R. Maia dos Santos) [one worker], (CPDC 5651). Ceará, Guaramiranga, − 4.266.667, − 38.933.333, 28.ii.2002, ± 900 m (Yves Quinet) [one worker]. − 4.266.667, − 38.933.333, 21.vii.2002, ± 900 m (Y. Quinet) [one worker]. Maranhão, São Luís, − 2.604.264, − 44.250.581, 12.ix.2014, (J. A. Silva) [one worker, CPDC 5790]. PANAMA, Colon Province, São Lourenzo Forest, 9.240861, − 79.985667, 15.x.2003, (N. Winchester and K. Jordan) [one worker]. TRINIDAD, Aripo Heights, Semi Forest litter, 14.iv.1972 (B.R. Pitkin) [1 worker] [ANTWEB-CASENT0281996]. Diagnosis. Basal lamella of mandible triangular, without diastema between it and masticatory margin; eyes large, with 20 or more ommatidia in total; strongly dorsoventrally compressed scapes; pronotal humeral and apicoscrobal setae short and stout hair; pilosity narrowly remiform, ground pilosity of spatulate hairs; petiole and postpetiole entirely reticulate-punctate in dorsal view, with basigastral costulae shorter than a third of postpetiole disc length. Comments. The examined specimens from different localities, including the type material [28], showed variation. The main differences observed were in specimens collected in the Atlantic Forest of Southern Bahia, Brazil, in the municipality of Una, which have a significant portion of the lower mesopleuron smooth (Figure 3 B), thicker and apically slightly remiform gaster pilosity (Figure 4 B), differences in pilosity on the cephalic dorsum (Figure 4 A) and slightly shorter petiolar node in lateral view (Figure 4 B). The specimen, compared to the type, is more similar to the other examined material and has a sculptures lower mesopleuron, slightly thinner gastral pilosity, cephalic pilosity thicker (Figure 4 D) and longer petiolar node in lateral view. Although a reasonable number of specimens have been collected since Bolton’s revision [4] and mainly since Brown’s work [12], it remains hard to decide whether Strumigenys schulzi is a complex of various cryptic species or a single species that shows variation across its wide distribution. This challenge arises because, despite being a widely distributed and extensively collected species, the samples consist primarily of single individuals, making it difficult to study possible intra-populational variations.