Strumigenys impidora

Identification
Bolton (1983) – The flattened head and lack of specialized pilosity isolate impidora from the other members of the emarginata-group. The closest related species is Strumigenys chyatha, but here the dorsum of the head retains a transverse band of suborbicular hairs between the vertex and the occipital margin. In Strumigenys behasyla, another close species, two such bands of hairs are present, one occipitally and one just behind the frontal lobes, and the head is by no means as strongly dorsoventrally flattened.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Ivory Coast.

Nomenclature

 *  impidora. Smithistruma impidora Bolton, 1983: 294, fig. 6 (w.) IVORY COAST. Combination in Pyramica: Bolton, 1999: 1673; in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 121. See also: Bolton, 2000: 303.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.1, HL 0.64, HW 0.40, CI 63, ML 0.06. MI 9, SL 0.25, SI 63, PW 0.25, AL 0.58.

Mandibles equipped with 5 relatively large teeth following the basal lamella (which is concealed by the clypeus). Distal to these are two slightly smaller teeth followed by 4 minute denticles and a small apical tooth. Anterior clypeal margin broadly and evenly concave, equipped with a series of 7 scale-like hairs which project forward over the mandibles. Of these the three central hairs are the smallest and the outermost pair, almost at the anterolateral angles, are by far the largest and form a transition to the fringe of large spatulate to spoon-shaped projecting hairs which line the lateral clypeal margins. Dorsum of clypeus and cephalic dorsum devoid of hairs of any description; upper scrobe margins and sides of head posteriorly devoid of hairs of any description. The cephalic dorsum and clypeal dorsum with scattered minute pubescence which is only visible at high magnification. Sides of clypeus shallowly convex and convergent anteriorly in full-face view. Preocular laminae slightly divergent anteriorly in full-face view. Antennal scapes broad and flattened, bent very close to the base and broadest at the level of the bend or just distal to it. Leading edges of scapes evenly rounded at the bend and with a series of projecting large spatulate hairs. Cephalic dorsum finely punctulate-granular everywhere, the clypeus shagreened. Head in profile very obviously dorsoventrally flattened, the ventrolateral margin of the head almost flat and the mid-posteroventral convexity of the head vestigial. Eyes of moderate size, the maximum diameter about 0.13 X HW, less than the maximum width of the scape. Pronotum not marginate laterally, without a median longitudinal ridge or carina dorsally. With alitrunk in profile the mesonotum and propodeum forming a single almost flat surface, without trace of metanotal groove. Propodeal teeth only slightly elevated from the line of the mesonotal-propodeal dorsa, somewhat upcurved along their length. Infradental lamellae vestigial, merely a minute crest between the propodeal teeth and the metapleural lobes. Dorsal alitrunk and dorsal surfaces of petiole, postpetiole and first gastral tergite lacking standing hairs of any description. The alitrunk and first gastral tergite only with minute appressed pubescence but the petiole and postpetiole bordered posteriorly by a sparse row of indistinct appressed hairs which project backward over the posterior spongiform appendages of the segments. Pronotal dorsum exceedingly feebly sculptured with vestiges of low minute longitudinal rugulae which are almost completely effaced. Mesonotum and propodeal dorsum smooth. Dorsum of petiole node shagreened, postpetiolar disc smooth. First gastral tergite unsculptured except for the feeble and widely spaced basigastral costulae. Sides of alitrunk mostly smooth but with punctures on the mesopleuron and sides of the propodeum. Spongiform appendages of pedicel segments massively developed in profile. In dorsal view the posterior border of the petiole node with a transverse spongiform strip which continues down the sides. Anterior margin of postpetiole shallowly concave and with a transverse spongiform strip, the posterior margin convex at the sides but flattened or slightly indented medially and with a transverse spongiform strip which is narrowed centrally. Sides of postpetiole disc with the more ventrally situated spongiform material projecting beyond the outline and visible in dorsal view; the spongiform tissue outline diverging from front to back. Base of first gastral tergite with a transverse spongiform band which is overlapped by that on the postpetiole. Colour uniform light brown.

Paratypes. TL 2.1-2.2, HL 0.62-0.64, HW 0.39-0.40, CI 63, ML 0.06, MI 9-10, SL 0.25-0.26, SI 64-65, PW 0.24-0.25, AL 0.56-0.60 (2 measured).

As holotype but maximum diameter of eye 0.11-0.13 x HW.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Ivory Coast: Abidjan, Banco Nat. Park, primary forest, dead trunk, 3.iii.1977 (I. Lobi) (MNH). Paratypes. 2 workers with same data as holotype.