Strumigenys godeffroyi

Nomenclature

Species: Strumigenys godeffroyi Mayr 1866

General description

Strumigenys godeffroyi is a minute reddish species with a triangular head, linear mandibles, six-segmented antennae with a two-segmented antennal club, antennal scrobes, spongiform appendages on the propodeum and waist, and flagellate hairs on the dorsal surfaces of the mesosoma, waist and gaster. Like all myrmicines, S. godeffroyi also has a two-segmented waist and a gaster armed with a sting. Strumigenys godeffroyi is not known to cause significant damage to ecological or agricultural system, and is mostly restricted the forests. It is a relatively rare ant, despite its widespread distribution across the Pacific. The species is most commonly collected from forest leaf litter and is rarely seen foraging on the surface.

External links

Antweb | Antwiki

Risk statement

Not considered a significant pest species.

Diagnostic description

Diagnosis of worker among Antkey species

Head shape triangular. Antenna 6-sgemented. Antennal club 2-segmented. Antennal scapes not conspicuously short; easily extended beyond eye level. Antennal insertions at least partly covered by frontal lobes. Eyes medium to large (greater than 5 facets); situated on lower margin of scrobe. Frontal lobes do not obscure face outline between mandible and eye. Posterolateral corners of head unarmed, without spines. Lacking ventral notch anterior to eyes. Mandibles linear; armed with apical fork and 1 preapical tooth; evenly curved and lacking abrupt attenuation near insertion of preapical tooth. Pronotal spines absent. Propodeum armed with spines or teeth. Mesosoma with dense pelt of short hairs on dorsal surface. Waist 2-segmented. Petiole and postpetiole with distinct spongiform. Hairs on petiole, postpetiole and gaster flagellate. Appressed circular hairs do not cover face, mesosoma and waist segments.

Strumigenys godeffroyi can be separated from other introduced and commonly intercepted Strumigenys species by the following combination of characters: (1) mandibles linear; (2) mandibles with apical fork and 1 preapical tooth; (3) mandibles evenly curved and lacking abrupt attenuation near insertion of preapical tooth; (4) hairs on petiole, postpetiole and gaster flagellate; (5) mesosoma with dense pelt of short hairs on dorsal. This last character separates it from the similar looking S. lewisi.

Look alikes

Strumigenys lewisi

Distribution

Click here for updated occurrence data and map on antmaps.org
Click here for updated occurrence data and map on GBIF.org

Lateral view of head, adult worker. Ventral notch absent.	Lateral view of head, adult worker. The ventral margin of the head is entire and lacks a distinct notch just anterior to the eyes. Used in Antkey to separate Strumigenys godeffroyi, Strumigenys lanuginosa, Strumigenys lewisi and Strumigenys silvestrii from Strumigenys rogeri.
Dorsal view of mandibles, adult worker. Mandibular teeth.	Dorsal view of mandibles, adult. Mandibles linear and armed with apical fork (arrow).
Dorsal view of mandibles, adult worker. The mandibles are evenly curved, lacking abrupt attenuation near insertion of preapical tooth. Used in Antkey to separate Strumigenys godeffroyi and Strumigenys lewisi from Strumigenys lanuginosa.	Lateral view of thorax / mesosoma, adult worker. Mesosoma with dense pelt of short hairs on dorsal surface.
Lateral view of body, surface characters, adult worker. The dorsum of the mesosoma has a dense pelt of short, semierect hairs distinct from the very long flexuous hairs. Used in Antkey to separate Strumigenys godeffroyi from Strumigenys lewisi.	Lateral view of spongiform appendages, adult worker. Petiole with distinct spongiform.
Lateral view of setae, adult worker. Hairs flagellate.