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..."
Brown (1958) states that the extremely long mandibles of cordovensis are possibly used "to lift the prey, presumed to be mainly or entirely furculate collembolans as in other species of the genus, clear of the ground after the mandibular strike is made, in this way preventing the springtails from kicking with the furcula against the ground and upsetting the ant. Such disproportionately large mandibles must be employed almost entirely in the open, because confined spaces would surely hinder their action."
However, Bolton (1999) has shown that all members of the genus use a kinetic mode of attack, in which the prey is stunned prior to grasping and lifting. This suggests that the long mandibles of cordovensis simply give the species a greater striking power and reach, rather than allowing struggling prey to be lifted clear of the ground.
In Costa Rica this species occurs in dry and wet forest habitats. It inhabits forest floor leaf litter.
Widespread, from southern Mexico south to Brazil and Paraguay. Costa Rica: both slopes to 500m.
Taxonomic history
Senior synonym of Strumigenys mokensis: Bolton, 2000: 531.See also: Brown, 1958c: 218.Concepción (BMNH, MHNG). Literature records: Concepción (Bolton 2000).
