Strumigenys xenomastax

Known from the type material, collections from a litter-sample and a rotten log in a rainforest.

Identification
The only member of the Strumigenys xenomastax-group.

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

Nomenclature

 *  xenomastax. Pyramica xenomastax Bolton, 2000: 471 (w.q.m.) NEW GUINEA. Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 130

Worker
Holotype. TL 1.6, HL 0.45, HW 0.31, CI 69, ML 0.10, MI 22, SL 0.20, SI 65, PW 0.21, AL 0.44. Eye relatively large, with 4 ommatidia in the longest row and about 11 ommatidia in total. Petiole node in dorsal view slightly broader than long. Ventral spongiform curtain of petiole well developed but lateral lobes very small, scarcely more than a slight expansion of the narrow posterodorsal collar. Dorsolateral margin of head with an inconspicuous short, freely projecting simple apicoscrobal hair; this hair scarcely differentiated from others on the margin. Standing hairs sparse on dorsal surfaces of head and alitrunk, only slightly longer and more elevated than the ground-pilosity. First gastral tergite with sparse simple short standing hairs and minute appressed pubescence. Dorsal (outer) surfaces of middle and hind tibiae with apically curved small hairs that are subappressed to appressed; without elongate freely projecting hairs. Dorsum of head behind clypeus and dorsal alitrunk finely and densely reticulate-punctate; pronotal dorsum also with some extremely feeble longitudinal rugulae. Disc of postpetiole and first gastral tergite smooth. Basigastral costulae sparse and short but well developed.

Paratypes. TL 1.5-1.6, HL 0.42-0.44, HW 0.29-0.30, CI 68-69, ML 0.09, MI 20-21, SL 0.18-0.19, SI 60-66, PW 0.18-0.20, AL 0.38-0.42 (2 measured).

Type Material
Holotype worker, Papua New Guinea: Ambunti, 4°13'S, 142°49'E, 150 m., 12.ii.1989, sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood) rainforest, #10186-28 (P. S. Ward).

Paratypes, 2 workers, 1 queen, 1 male, same locality but 50 m., 2.vii.1980, ex rotten log, lowland rainforest, #4648 (P. S. Ward) (BMNH, ).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65
 * Janda M., G. D. Alpert, M. L. Borowiec, E. P. Economo, P. Klimes, E. Sarnat, and S. O. Shattuck. 2011. Cheklist of ants described and recorded from New Guinea and associated islands. Available on http://www.newguineants.org/. Accessed on 24th Feb. 2011.