Strumigenys emdeni

The only non-type specimen yields the only details about this ant's biology. It was collected from a tropical evergreen forest.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the emdeni complex in the Strumigenys horvathi-group. The three species emdeni, Strumigenys enanna and Strumigenys semirex are closely related. S. emdeni has a longer, more slender head than the other two, with more convex upper scrobe margins. In addition the striking broad ground-pilosity of the cephalic dorsum is very obviously repeated on the promesonotum and the disc of the postpetiole is sculptured.

In the other two species the head is shorter and broader, with straighter upper scrobe margins. The ground-pilosity of the cephalic dorsum is not repeated on the promesonotum, which in dorsal view looks quite bare in comparison to the head. The disc of the postpetiole in both species is smooth. S. semirex is larger than enanna and has extensive smooth patches laterally on the alitrunk; this area is entirely reticulate-punctate in enanna.

These three species together are quickly separable from the fourth member of the emdeni-complex, Strumigenys nummula, as this last species has a short, straight pronotal humeral hair and three pairs of erect hairs on the mesonotal dorsum.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  emdeni. Strumigenys emdeni Forel, 1915b: 41 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Combination in Labidogenys: Brown, 1948e: 103; in Strumigenys: Taylor & Brown, D.R. 1985: 87. See also: Bolton, 2000: 974.

Worker
Bolton (2000) - TL 2.5-2.9, HL 0.69-0.80, HW 0.49-0.58, CI 70-74, ML 0.22-0.26, MI 30-34, SL 0.29-0.35, SI 58-66, PW 0.29-0.33, AL 0.69-0.76 (12 measured).

Characters of emdeni-complex. Inner margin of mandible with a narrow translucent cuticular lamella that commences at mandible base and peters out just proximal of the curved-spiniform preapical tooth; maximum width of lamella distinctly less than half the length of the preapical tooth. Outer curvature of eyes not visible in full-face view, eyes completely concealed by upper scrobe margins. Ventrolateral margin of head in front of eye very shallowly concave. With head in profile the scrobe strongly developed behind the level of the eye, deep, clearly defined and with sharp dorsal, ventral and posterior margins. Dorsal surfaces of head and promesonotum densely clothed with orbicular ground-pilosity. Posteriorly on mesonotum these hairs may be more elevated than elsewhere but there are no erect hairs anywhere on the cephalic and alitrunk dorsa. Pronotal humeral hair absent. First gastral tergite with numerous erect stiff hairs that are slightly thickened or flattened apically, or weakly remiform. Dorsum of head and alitrunk reticulate-punctate but sculpture m uch concealed by ground-pilosity. Side of alitrunk entirely reticulate to reticulate-punctate, without a smooth area on katepisternum. Disc of postpetiole reticulate-shagreenate to reticulate-punctate.

Type Material
Bolton (2000) - Syntype workers, AUSTRALIA: Queensland, Atherton (E. Mjoberg) [examined].