Strongylognathus potanini

Presumed to be a social parasite, nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Radchenko (1995) - S. potanini belongs to the testaceus-group and closely related to Strongylognathus karawajewi. Females exactly differ from both S. karawajewi  and Strongylognathus testaceus by entirely smooth body, absence of propodeal teeth, shape of petiolar node, smaller body size, etc. Male differs from these species by fine body sculpture.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  potanini. Strongylognathus potanini Radchenko, 1995e: 57, figs. 1-5 (q.m.) CHINA.

Queen
HL = 0.69-0.71 (holotype: 0.71), HW = 0.62-0.63 (0.63), SL = 0.40-0.43 (0.42), AL = 0.92-0.97 (0.97).

Head slightly elongate (CI = 1.12-1.15 [holotype: 1.12]), with parallel sides, strongly concave occipital border and stretched out occipital corners. Antennal scape short (SI = 1.63-1.75 [1.69]). Propodeum without teeth, sometimes with blunt tubercles only. Petiolar node flattened in profile, with pointed apex. Whole body smooth and shining, sometimes sides of petiolar and postpetiolar nodes with fine superficial shagraine sculpture only. Body with long erect hairs, legs and antennal scape with decumbent pilosity. Colour reddish-brown, legs and antennal scape ochraceous.

Male
HL = 0.56, HW = 0.57, SL = 0.29, AL = 1.40.

Head somewhat transverse (CI = 0.98), widely rounded behind eyes, occipital border slightly convex, occipital corners stretched out (as seen in profile). Antennal scape short (SI = 1.9). Alitrunk high, propodeum without tubercles and teeth. Petiole low, its node triangular, with rounded apex (see in profile). Head shining, with very fine superficial touch-like rugosity; frontal plate and clypeus smooth and shining. Alitrunk and pedicel smooth and shining, sides of alitrunk with some superficial touch-like rugae only. Body with numerous long outstanding hairs, legs and antennal scape with decumbent pilosity. Colour reddish-brown, legs ochraceous.

Type Material
Holotype queen, China, river Sang-Tshang-khe, 28.VI.1884 (Potanin) [original label text in Russian:]; paratypes: 3Q, 1M with same label data. Type-specimens of S. potanini are pinned together with workers of Tetramorium jacoti (=Tetramorium tsushimae); this latter is, in all probability, a host of S. potanini.