1961] 
Brown — Strumigenys 
59 
dibles completely without teeth or denticles basad of the apical fork 
in the preapical region). This sample indicates that the preapical 
dentition, usually so constant in species of Strumigenys , may some- 
times be unreliable. The Boquete sample would clearly indicate syn- 
onymy between micretes and lacacoca were it not for one disturbing 
fact: the Boquete sample differs from the available samples of both 
species in its larger size and in having the promesonotum very distinct- 
ly and closely longitudinally striate throughout (arched striate along 
the anterior pronotal margin). This sculpture is somewhat shining, 
especially on the sides, where a large section becomes smooth or nearly 
so. The rest of the sides of the alitrunk are also smooth and shining 
for the most part. Postpetiole predominantly smooth and shining, 
crossed by a few longitudinal costulae. Propodeal teeth also longer, 
more slender and more nearly horizontal than in the micretes or la- 
cacoca type series. Anterior coxae smooth or nearly so, shining. 
Some specimens of micretes and lacacoca have feebly indicated longi- 
tudinal rugulae or costulae on the pronotum (in addition to the medi- 
an carinula), but in these the predominant sculpture is the usual 
opaque reticulo-punctulation over at least the discal portion. The 
size, head wddth and sculptural traits of the Boquete sample could 
well be diagnostic of still another species in this close-knit complex, or 
they could merely mark a local population of a single variable species 
that would also include the types of micretes and lacacoca. For the 
present, it seems wise to avoid introducing new species names for mem- 
bers of this complex and also to hold off from synonymizing micretes 
and lacacoca until the distribution and variation of the complex are 
better known. For the convenience of future workers, I list here the 
material of the complex that I have studied, with such measurements, 
proportions and other observations as I have obtained from them 
(n = number of workers measured for each sample) : 
Colombiana Farm, Santa Clara, Costa Rica (W. M. Mann leg.), 
TL 2.9-3. i, ML 0.70-0.74, ML 0.45-0.47, WL 0.72-0.76 mm; Cl 
71-74, MI 62-65 (n = 12), type series of S. micretes. Progreso, 
Chiriqui Prov., Panama, (F. M. Gaige leg., no. 332), TL 3. 1-3.3, 
HL 0.75-0.76, ML 0.50-0.51 mm; Cl “about as in the type series” 
of micretes, MI 66-68 (n = 6), series placed with micretes in the 
original description of that species. Boquete, Chiriqui Prov., Panama 
(F. M. Gaige leg., nos. 208, 497, 504 and one series with no number) 
TL 3.7-4.0, HL 0.86-0.90, HW 0.66-0.68, ML 0.58-0.61, WL 0.92- 
O.99 mm; Cl 75-76, MI 67-68 (n = 25), Strumigenys near micretes, 
discussed above. Cerro Campana, west of Chorrera, Panama Prov., 
Panama, at about 950 m altitude in montane rain forest (cloud for- 
