Strumigenys philiporum

Identification
Bolton (2000) - Perhaps the most immediately recognisable Strumigenys species in the Austral region; the massive overdevelopment of spongiform tissue renders philiporum unmistakable. Two other species from the Malesian region show a similar hypertrophy of spongiform tissue on the alitrunk, Strumigenys sisyrata and Strumigenys kempfi, but these cannot be confused with philiporum (see their respective descriptions). The reason for this strange adaptation remains unguessed.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  philiporum. Strumigenys philiporum Brown, 1988b: 38, fig. 1 (w.) AUSTRALIA. See also: Bolton, 2000: 981.

Worker
Bolton (2000) - TL 2.9-3.3, HL 0.78-0.86, HW 0.46-0.51, CI 58-60, ML 0.36-0.40, MI 43-49, SL 0.50-0.60, SI 110-118, PW 0.32-0.39, AL 0.80-0.95 (20 measured).

Spongiform tissue massively hypertrophied. As well as the usual spongiform lobes on the waist segments there is a crest on the dorsum of the petiole peduncle and a huge development of spongiform tissue on the alitrunk. In profile the entire dorsum of the mesonotum and propodeum, the entire side and declivity of the propodeum and most of the metapleuron, is covered with a single continuous blanket of dense spongiform tissue; only the pronotal dorsum is free of it. In dorsal view there is a V-shaped cleft in the tissue above the propodeal declivity and another, much smaller, gap in the tissue above the anterior mesonotum. In profile and dorsal view the thick lateral spongiform lobe of the petiole extends the entire length of the node. Eyes large, maximum diameter very obviously greater than maximum width of scape; with about 7 ommatidia in the longest row and more than 20 in total. Pronotum sharply marginate dorsolaterally, the dorsum flat to shallowly concave. Apicoscrobal hair flagellate; pronotal humeral hair flagellate and pronotal dorsum with two erect flagellate pairs. Erect flagellate hairs also present on waist segments, gaster and all segments of legs. Cephalic dorsum with a transverse row of erect simple hairs across occipital margin, with a pair of similar hairs at highest point of vertex and another pair between this and the occipital row. Sides of alitrunk that are free of spongiform tissue glassy smooth. Disc of postpetiole sculptured, with some weak transverse striolae developed.

Type Material
Bolton (2000) - Holotype worker, paratype workers and queen, AUSTRALIA: Queensland, Mt Lewis, near Mossman, 900 m, 26.xii.1957 (P. J. & P. S. Darlington); paratype workers, AUSTRALIA: Queensland, Mt Alexander, NW of Daintree, 20-23.xii.1957, rainforest (Darlingtons); Qld, Lake Eacham, Atherton Tableland, ii.1958, rainforest (Darlingtons); Lake Eacham Nat. Pk, nos. 1423, 1603, rotten logs (R. W. Taylor); Danbullah Forest, near Atherton, no. 1662 (R. W. Taylor) [examined].