Strumigenys leptodeira group
Strumigenys leptodeira group Bolton (2000)
Species
Worker Diagnosis
Apical fork of mandible with 2 spiniform teeth; 2 minute and inconspicuous intercalary denticles present. A single short preapical tooth present, near the apicodorsal tooth. Mandible approximately straight, the inner margin strongly concave in the apical fifth or so of its length (immediately proximal of apicodorsal tooth), the small preapical tooth arising from the margin within this concavity. MI 42-43.
Anterior clypeal margin transverse to very shallowly concave across its width.
Scape short and subcylindrical; SI 61-67.
Apical antennomere not constricted basally.
Ventrolateral margin of head without a preocular impression or notch; with head in profile the dorsal and ventral outlines without impressions except for the postbuccal groove.
Propodeal teeth subtended by a conspicuous lamella, the posterior (free) margin of which is more or less straight and vertical.
Spongiform appendages of waist segments all present; ventral fringe of petiole narrow, lateral lobe of petiole distinct but does not extend as far forward as level of anterior face of node.
Pilosity. Apicoscrobal hair present, flagellate. Pronotal humeral hair flagellate. Pilosity of dorsal alitrunk short, soft and simple. First gastral tergite with extremely reduced pilosity, a single transverse row of flagellate hairs at extreme base and a pair or short row at extreme apex of sclerite. Stiffly spatulate, remiform or otherwise bizarre pilosity absent. Hind bas tarsus with 2 very long fine erect hairs. Hairs on leading edge of scape extremely small, fine and simple, decumbent to appressed.
Sculpture. Disc of postpetiole unsculptured. Gaster unsculptured except for basigastral costulae, the latter vestigial and mostly restricted to limbus, hardly impinging on sclerite proper.
Notes
The single species in this group presents an odd mixture of characters. The form of the mandible and propodeal infradental lamella are similar to what is seen in the koningsbergeri group, but the pilosity and sculpture are more reminiscent of the caniophanes group.
References
- Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028.