Strumigenys hirashimai

Rarer in Japan than Strumigenys hexamera, this species nests in the soil of broadleaf forests (Japanese Ant Image Database).

Identification
A member of the argiola complex in the Strumigenys argiola group.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Japan.

Nomenclature

 *  hirashimai. Epitritus hirashimai Ogata, 1990: 197, figs. 1-3 (w.) JAPAN. Combination in Pyramica: Bolton, 1999: 1672; in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 121. See also: Bolton, 2000: 389.

Worker
Bolton (2000) - TL 1.1-1.4, HL 0.40-0.46, HW 0.36-0.40, CI 82-95, ML 0.12-0.14, MI 27-33, SL 0.20-0.24, SI 55-63, PW 0.20-0.24, AL 0.42-0.48 (measurements from Ogata, 1990). Apicodorsal tooth of mandible short-spiniform, longer than apicoventral tooth. Mandible without preapical teeth. Dorsal surface of mandible bare, without longitudinal rows of broad specialised hairs. Anterior clypeal margin with 6 narrowly spoon-shaped hairs; the two pairs closest to the clypeal midline are short and curved or inclined toward the midline. Hairs on leading edge of scape are curved toward the base of the scape. Funicular segments 2 and 3 ( = antennal segments 3 and 4) small but distinct. Orbicular hairs present on dorsal surfaces of scapes and all over the cephalic dorsum; those occurring medially on the clypeus are the same size as those near its lateral or posterior margins. CI < 1 00. Mesonotum in profile not bulging posteriorly over base of propodeum. Dorsolateral margin of propodeum without broadly spoon-shaped hairs that are strongly curved posteriorly.

Type Material
Bolton (2000) - Holotype worker and paratype workers, JAPAN: Izu Islands, Toshima I., 27.iii.1986 (K. Murata & M. Terayama); paratype workers, JAPAN: Nagasaki Pref., Kuroko I., Hirado, 6.ix.1982 (K. Ogata & S. Eto); Oita Pref., Hazama, 5.xi.1985 (A. Miyata); Nagasaki Pref., Tsushima I., Izuhara-Ariakeyama (Izuhara-Jinjya Shrine), 25.ix.1959 (T. Hidaka, K. Morimoto & T. Karawabata); Amami-Oshima I., Mt. Yuwan, 16.viii.1986 (H. Takamine) (,, , UTK) [examined].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * CSIRO Collection
 * Choi B.M., K. Ogata, and M. Terayama. 1993. Comparative studies of ant faunas of Korea and Japan. 1. Faunal comparison  among islands of Southern Korean and northern Kyushu, Japan. Bull. Biogeogr. Soc. Japan 48(1): 37-49.
 * Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
 * Hosoichi S., M. Yoshimura, Y. Kuboki, and K. Ogata. 2007. Ants from Yakushima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture. Ari 30: 47-54.
 * Hosoishi S., M. Yoshimura, Y. Kuboki, and K. Ogata. 2007. Ants from Yakushima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture. Ari 30: 47-54.
 * Matsumura S. and Yamane Sk. 2012. Species composition and dominant species of ants in Jigenji Park, Kagoshima City, Japan. Nature of Kagoshima 38: 99107
 * Matsumura S., and S. Yamane. 2012. Species composition and dominant species of ants in Jigenji Park, Kagoshima City, Japan. Nature of Kagoshima 38: 99-107.
 * Ogata K. 1990. A new species of the ant genus Epitritus Emery from Japan (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Esakia Spec. Issue 1: 197-199
 * Sato T., N. Tsurusaki, K. Hamaguchi, and K. Kinomura. 2010. Ant fauna of Tottori prefecture, Honshu, Japan. Bulletin of the Tottori Prefectural Museum 47: 27-44.
 * Terayama M. 1992. Structure of ant communities in East Asia. A. Regional differences and species richness. Bulletin of the Bio-geographical Society of Japan 47: 1-31.
 * Terayama M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta: Hymenoptera). Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University. Liberal Arts 17:81-266.
 * Terayama M., C. C. Lin, and W. J. Wu. 1995. The ant genera Epitritus and Kyidris from Taiwan (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Proceedings of the Japanese Society of Systematic Zoology 53: 85-89.
 * Terayama M., K. Ogata, and B.M. Choi. 1994. Distribution records of ants in 47 prefectures of Japan. Ari (report of the Myrmecologists Society of Japan) 18: 5-17.
 * Terayama M., S. Kubota, and K. Eguchi. 2014. Encyclopedia of Japanese ants. Asakura Shoten: Tokyo, 278 pp.
 * Terayama M., and S. Kubota. 2002. Ants of Tokyo, Japan. ARI 26: 1-32.
 * Teruyama. M. 1994. Ant fauna of Saitama Prefecture, Japan (Supplement). ARI Reports of the Myrmecologists Society (Japan) 18: 30
 * Xu Z. H., and X. G. Zhou. 2004. Systematic study on the ant genus Pyramica Roger (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of China. Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica 29: 440-450.
 * Xu Z. and X.-G. Zhou. 2004. Systematic study on the ant genus Pyramica Roger (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of China. Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica 29(3): 440-450
 * Yamane S. 2016. How many species of Ants in Amami Islands? (in Japanese). Part 2, chapter 1 in How many species of Ants in Amami Islands? Pp. 92-132.
 * Yamane S., S. Ikudome, and M. Terayama. 1999. Identification guide to the Aculeata of the Nansei Islands, Japan. Sapporo: Hokkaido University Press, xii + 831 pp. pp, 138-317.
 * Yamane S., Y. Harada, and K. Eguchi. 2013. Classification and ecology of ants. Natural history of ants in Southern Kyushu. 200 pages
 * Yamane S.; Ikudome, S.; Terayama, M. 1999. Identification guide to the Aculeata of the Nansei Islands, Japan. Sapporo: Hokkaido University Press, xii + 831 pp. pp138-317.