Brown and Wilson (1959) summarize the genus as follows: "Widespread in tropics and warm temperate areas. Primarily forest-dwelling; some species occur in grassland and arid scrub. ... Nests mostly in soil and rotting wood; a few species live in arboreal plant cavities in tropical rain forest. Foraging hypogaeic to epigaeic-arboreal. Food: most species are collembolan feeders; a few are polyphagous predators or occasionally feed on sugary substances..."
Members of the genus are all predaceous, with a kinetic mode of attack (Bolton 1999).
The feeding habits of louisianae have been studied by Wilson (1950, 1954) and Brown (1962). Workers take live prey, mostly small arthropods in litter and soil. Preferred prey are entomobryoid and symphypleonan Collembola; poduroid collembolans are not taken.
The species prefers synanthropic and/or seasonally dry habitats. It is more abundant in the peripheral parts of its range (Costa Rica northward, southern Brazil southward) than in the center (Panama southward to Amazonian Brazil) (Brown 1961).
Throughout tropical and subtropical America, from the southern United States to Argentina. In Costa Rica, known from Atlantic and Pacific lowlands, and the Meseta Central.
Taxonomic history
Emery, 1895d PDF: 326 (q.); Haug, 1932 PDF: 170 (m.); Wheeler & Wheeler, 1955a PDF: 136 (l.).Senior synonym of Strumigenys unispinulosa: Emery, 1895d PDF: 326; Brown, 1953g PDF: 28.Senior synonym of Strumigenys louisianae laticephala: Smith, 1951c PDF: 826; Brown, 1953g PDF: 28.Senior synonym of Strumigenys bruchi: Brown, 1953g PDF: 28.Senior synonym of Strumigenys louisianae costaricensis: Brown, 1953g PDF: 28.Senior synonym of Strumigenys eggersi cubaensis: Brown, 1953g PDF: 28.Senior synonym of Strumigenys louisianae guatemalensis: Brown, 1953g PDF: 28.Senior synonym of Strumigenys unispinulosa longicornis: Brown, 1953g PDF: 28.Senior synonym of Strumigenys louisianae obscuriventris: Brown, 1953g PDF: 28.Senior synonym of Strumigenys louisianae soledadensis: Brown, 1953g PDF: 28.Senior synonym of Strumigenys clasmospongia: Brown, 1961a PDF: 64.Senior synonym of Strumigenys fusca: Brown, 1961a PDF: 64.Senior synonym of Strumigenys unidentata: Brown, 1961a PDF: 64.Senior synonym of Strumigenys producta: Bolton, 2000: 524.Senior synonym of Strumigenys wani: Bolton et al., 2008 PDF: 62.See also: Wilson, 1954a PDF: 481; Bolton, 2000: 525.
