Stictoponera delta

Only known from the holotype worker, nothing is known about the biology of this species.

Identification
Lattke (2004) - Other species of the laevior group with a smooth to almost glabrous sculpturing on the median clypeus and mandibles are Stictoponera biloba, Stictoponera hyalina, and Stictoponera leiolabia. These species can be separated from G. delta by the presence of two distinct longitudinal ridges that extend from the anterior end of the frontal carinae down to the anterior clypeal margin, a feature lacking in S. delta. These species also have the clypeal lamella with a broadly convex anterior margin, not angular as in S. delta.

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

Castes
Queen and male are unknown.

Nomenclature

 * . Gnamptogenys delta Lattke, 2004: 191, fig. 52 (w.) WEST MALAYSIA.
 * Type-material: holotype worker.
 * Type-locality: Malaysia: Pahang, Ringlet, 1250 m., ravine no. 20, 26.iii.1993 (Löbl & Calame).
 * Type-depository: MHNG.
 * Combination in Stictoponera: Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 12.
 * Status as species: Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 12.
 * Distribution: Malaysia (Peninsula).

Lattke (2004) - Head with lateral margins anteriorly convergent in frontal view, forming acute angle continuous with external mandibular margin; clypeal lamella triangular with rounded anteromedian lobe. Propodeal declivity with punctulae along lateral margin, centrally mostly smooth. Foveolae and punctae glazed, without sharp edges.

Worker
Metrics. Holotype: HL 0.76, HW 0.63, ML 0.41, SL 0.51, ED 0.18, WL 1.07 mm. CI 0.84, SI 0.81, MI 0.65, OI 0.28. Head with anteriorly convergent lateral margins in frontal view, clypeal lamella triangular with anterior median lobe; round to oval foveolae present on frons, foveolae denser laterally, forming ill-defined posteriorly diverging rows; scape with subdecumbent hairs along dorsal margin; clypeus with a slightly elevated median area, mostly smooth with lateral irregular depressions and sparse punctae on lamella; mandible edentate, mostly smooth, sparsely punctate, with faint strigulae on base; occipital lamella gradually raising from cephalic surface along both ends in lateral view, minute angle present on anterior end.

Mesosoma with abundant foveolae on pronotum in lateral view, intervening space narrower than diameter of depressions except for smooth longitudinal strip parallel to groove along ventral margin; anepisternum rhomboid, mostly smooth with several punctae; katepisternum mostly smooth with low rugulae, plus few foveolae; metapleuron mostly smooth anterad, posteriorly strigulose with some punctae; propodeal declivity with series of punctulae along outer margin, centrally mostly smooth with brief longitudinal strigulae around foramen; mesosomal dorsum with median longitudinal, mostly smooth strip; with sparse foveolae forming ill defined longitudinal rows laterally.

Petiolar node foveolate in lateral view, ventral process subquadrate with concave ventral margin; pospetiole laterally foveolate, deeper and wider anterad than posterad; sternal margin of postpetiole with a brief concavity formed by anterior process in lateral view, followed by straight margin, abruptly convex at posterior margin; postpetiolar dorsum with sparse, shallow piligerous punctae. Fore coxa laterally smooth. Dorsum of thorax and abdominal segments 1-4 with abundant erect to subdecumbent hairs. Body brown; legs, antennae, and mandibles

Type Material
Holotype worker. Malaysia, Pahang, Ringlet, 1250m, ravine no. 20, 26-iii-1993, I. Löbl & Calame. Deposited in.

Etymology
The outline formed by the head and mandibles of G. delta is strikingly triangular in dorsal view, consequently the species name is derived from the Greek word for “triangular,” delta.