Strumigenys snellingi

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys horvathi-group. This and the Australian species Strumigenys nummula are the only members of the group to have a pronotal humeral hair, but they are not closely related. The main differences are given in the outline of species complexes under the Austral fauna, and the standing pilosity is also different. The inconspicuous mesonotal pair of erect hairs in snellingi contrasts strongly with the three very distinct pairs seen in nummula and the hairs on the first gastral tergite are straight in snellingi, slightly flattened and expanded apically in nummula.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: New Guinea.

Nomenclature

 *  snellingi. Strumigenys snellingi Bolton, 2000: 834 (w.q.) NEW GUINEA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.7, HL 0.74, HW 0.56, CI 76, ML 0.32, MI 43, SL 0.39, SI 70, PW 0.30, AL 0.72. Ground-pilosity of head of closely applied, anteriorly curved, dense spoon- shaped hairs. Similar hairs fringe the leading edge of the scape and the dorsolateral margin of the head. Pronotal dorsum with dense spoon-shaped ground-pilosity that is somewhat more elevated than on the head. Pronotal humeral hair stiff and strongly differentiated from the ground-pilosity. Mesonotum with similar ground-pilosity as pronotum but posteriorly the spoon-shaped hairs are more elevated. Among these hairs, on the dorsolateral margin of the mesonotum, is a single pair of longer erect flattened hairs that project laterodorsally. First gastral tergite with numerous stiff straight erect hairs, stoutly simple but with their apices acute, blunted or minutely frayed out. Similar but less erect hairs occur on the waist segments. Head and dorsal alitrunk reticulate-punctate; sculpture weaker or partially effaced on side of pronotum, parts of pleurae and side of propodeum. Disc of postpetiole not entirely smooth, with weak ill-defined punctulate-granulate sculpture.

Paratypes. TL 2.5-2.7, HL 0.68-0.74, HW 0.51-0.56, CI 74-76, ML 0.30-0.32, MI 42-46, SL 0.36-0.39, SI 65-73, PW 0.29-0.30, AL 0.63-0.72 (5 measured).

Type Material
Holotype worker, Papua New Guinea: Gulf Prov., Ivimka camp, Lakekamu Basin, 7.7°S, 146.8°E, 120 m., 28.x.1996, lowland wet forest, under bark of log on ground, #96-231 (R. R. Snelling) [holotype is top worker of three on pin]. Paratypes. 23 workers and one queen, with same data as holotype (LACM,, , ).