Strumigenys eurycera

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys eurycera-group. The grossly expanded lobe on the leading edge of the scape renders this species immediately recognisable. No other species in the region has this character though the development is paralleled by the Afrotropical Strumigenys tetraphanes (a member of the arnoldi-group).

Specimens from Kai Besar are at the upper end of the size range noted. They tend to be larger than those from Sulawesi or Papua New Guinea but the morphologically diagnostic features are stable across the whole range.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Indonesia, New Guinea, Solomon Islands.

Nomenclature

 *  eurycera. Epitritus eurycera Emery, 1897c: 581, pl. 14, fig. 17 (w.) NEW GUINEA. Combination in Quadristruma: Brown, 1949b: 50; in Strumigenys: Bolton, 1999: 1674. See also: Bolton, 2000: 779.

Worker
Bolton (2000) - TL 1.7-2.2, HL 0.46-0.56, HW 0.42-0.48, CI 86-93, ML 0.16-0.20, MI 33-37, SL 0.24-0.34, SI 60-70, PW 0.24-0.30, AL 0.49-0.60 (7 measured).

Mandibles slender, narrower at base than at apex, inserted very close together in full-face view and without trace of a lamella on the inner margin proximal of the preapical tooth. Apical antennal segment stout, not spindle-shaped nor constricted basally, broadly articulated to the preapical segment. Scape very flattened and enormously expanded into an anteriorly-directed lobe; length of scape at most only 1.60 X the maximum scape width. Hairs on leading edge of scape curved toward the scape apex on the proximal half and toward the scape base on the distal half; in other words the hairs curve toward the apex of the lobe both proximal and distal of its apical point. Scrobe behind level of eye short and only feebly impressed. Dorsolateral margin of head and pronotal humeri without specialised projecting hairs. Cephalic dorsum without erect hairs or at most with a single minute pair of simple hairs close to the occipital margin. Erect hairs on first gastral tergite short and stiff, truncated or very slightly expanded apically.

Type Material
Bolton (2000) - Syntype workers, PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Aitape (= Berlinhafen) (L. Biro) [examined].