Strumigenys chareta

The type material was collected from leaf litter berleasate.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the rofocala complex in the Strumigenys godeffroyi-group. Three species of the rofocala-complex are indigenous in New Caledonia, Strumigenys aenigma, Strumigenys lamia and Strumigenys chareta. Of these aenigma is the only one to possess erect fine hairs on the dorsal surfaces of the middle and hind femora. The propodeal lamella is also broader in aenigma than in the other two species and has its posterior (free) margin at least straight, usually shallowly convex; in chareta and lamia the lamella is narrow and shallowly concave. Strumigenys chareta has mandibles that average longer than in aenigma (MI 48-52 as opposed to MI 43-46) but chareta usually has a distinct pair of short erect hairs at about the highest point of the vertex and has scapes that average longer (SI 86-93 as opposed to SI 82-85 in aenigma.

Strumigenys lamia has shorter mandibles and scapes (MI 42-46, SI 76-81) than either aenigma or chareta, and tends to have a somewhat broader head (CI 71-76 as opposed to CI 67-72 in the other two). Like aenigma it lacks erect hairs at the highest point of the vertex and like chareta it has a narrow propodeal lamella with a concave posterior (free) margin.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: New Caledonia.

Nomenclature

 *  chareta. Strumigenys chareta Bolton, 2000: 957 (w.) NEW CALEDONIA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.5, HL 0.62, HW 0.43, CI 69, ML 0.31, MI 50, SL 0.38, SI 88, PW 0.27, AL 0.65. With characters of rofocala-complex. Apicoscrobal hair short flagellate. Cephalic dorsum with a single pair of short erect hairs near highest point of vertex and usually also with 2-4 standing hairs along occipital margin; the latter may be straight or curve anteriorly in their upper halves. Ground-pilosity very narrowly linear spatulate and curved. Pronotal humeral hair flagellate, very long and fine; pronotal dorsum otherwise without erect hairs. Mesonotum with a single pair of erect fine flagellate hairs. Pronotal dorsum finely reticulate-punctulate and with traces of weak longitudinal rugulae; mesonotal and propodeal dorsa more strongly reticulate-punctate. Dorsal surfaces of middle and hind femora without erect sub flagellate hairs. Propodeal declivity with a narrow lamella, its posterior (free) margin shallowly concave. Katepisternum smooth, metapleuron and side of propodeum with an extensive smooth shining patch. Dorsum of petiole node finely reticulate-punctate; disc of postpetiole smooth except for near lateral and posterior margins where weak punctulate sculpture is present. Hairs on first gastral tergite erect and fine, sub flagellate to flagellate.

Paratypes. TL 2.4-2.5, HL 0.58-0.63, HW 0.41-0.45, CI 68-72, ML 0.30-0.31, MI 48-52, SL 0.35-0.40, SI 86-93, PW 0.25-0.27, AL 0.60-0.64 (5 measured).

Type Material
Holotype worker, New Caledonia: Sud, Noumea, Riv. Bleue, 22.xi.1995, RB10L, NC95-026 (Deharveng & Bedos). Paratypes. 1 worker with same data as holotype; 1 worker, New Caledonia: Mt Koghis, 450 m., 18.ii.1977,, leaf litter berleasate, #2255-2; 2 workers, Mt. Koghis, 750 m., 12.ii.1977, , leaf litter berlesate, moss forest, #2247-3 (P. S. Ward) (BMNH, , ).