Strumigenys harpyia

Collected in numerous in rainforest litter samples.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the smythiesii complex in the Strumigenys godeffroyi-group. This species and Strumigenys zygon are the smallest members of the smythiesii-complex in Australia and have the shortest scapes. The two are easily separated as harpyia has only the apicoscrobal flagellate hair on the upper scrobe margin and lacks conspicuous gastral pubescence. In zygon a second laterally projecting flagellate hair is present, on the upper scrobe margin at about the level of the eye (anterior to apicoscrobal hair), and the gaster has obvious curved decumbent pubescence that is much denser than is usual in the group.

Of all the remaining species in the complex only harpyia and Strumigenys alexetrix have a pair of standing hairs on the pronotal dorsum but the latter species is larger and has the pleurae and side of the propodeum entirely reticulate-punctate. See also notes under Strumigenys friedae.

S. harpyia exhibits a very wide range of colour forms, varying from yellow, through various shades of yellowish brown and reddish brown to dark brown or almost black. In general darkly coloured specimens are larger than lighter coloured ones. This phenomenon is also known in some Afrotropical and Neotropical strumigenyiforms and is not accorded any particular taxonomic significance here.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  harpyia. Strumigenys harpyia Bolton, 2000: 962, fig. 521 (w.q.) AUSTRALIA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 1.8, HL 0.45, HW 0.34, CI 76, ML 0.21, MI 47, SL 0.25, SI 74, PW 0.25, AL 0.45. With characters of smythiesii-complex. Apicoscrobal hair short flagellate. Cephalic dorsum reticulate-punctate and with incon spicuous short slender ground-pilosity. Cephalic dorsum usually with a pair of short standing hairs, located close to midline near occipital margin; these hairs only slightly longer and more elevated than ground-pilosity, frequently flattened down and inconspicuous, sometimes apparently absent. Eye small, with less than 10 ommatidia in total (7 in holotype). Pronotal humeral hair flagellate; pronotal dorsum with a pair of shorter standing hairs. Mesonotum with a single pair of erect flagellate hairs. Promesonotal dorsum finely reticulate-punctate. Propodeal dorsum less strongly and less intensely sculptured, more glossy and often smooth posteromedially. Propodeal declivity with posterior (free) margin of lamella more or less straight to shallowly concave. Mesopleuron, metapleuron and side of propodeum entirely smooth and shining; side of pronotum also mostly to entirely smooth. Disc of postpetiole smooth and shining.

Paratypes. TL 1.8, HL 0.44-0.46, HW 0.34-0.35, CI 76-78, ML 0.21-0.22, MI 45-49, SL 0.24-0.25, SI 71-74, PW 0.19-0.20, AL 0.44-0.45 (5 measured).

Dimensions of non-paratypic workers. TL 1.7-1.9, HL 0.44-0.50, HW 0.33-0.36, CI 71-78, ML 0.20-0.23, MI 43-49, SL 0.24-0.28, SI 70-76, PW 0.19-0.23, AL 0.44-0.54 (25 measured).

Type Material
Holotype worker, Australia: Queensland, NE, Graham Range, 9.iv.1979, QM Berlesate no. 7, 17.17S, 145.57E, 20 m., rainforest, stick brushing (G. Monteith). Paratypes. 2 workers and 1 queen with same data as holotype; 8 workers and 1 queen with same data but Berlesate no. 3 (ANIC, ).