Strumigenys khakaura

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys leptothrix-group. A very isolated and distinctive species. Within the group it is easily separated from Strumigenys exiguaevitae and its relatives by the characters noted under the species complexes.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 *  khakaura. Pyramica khakaura Bolton, 2000: 348 (w.) MADAGASCAR. Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 122

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.3, HL 0.65, HW 0.44, CI 68, ML 0.10, MI 15, SL 0.36, SI 82, PW 0.26, AL 0.68. Characters of kakaura-complex. Dorsolateral margin of head from level of eye to occipital corner with 4-6 freely laterally projecting flagellate hairs; ventrolateral margin with a number of similar hairs. Cephalic dorsum from about midlength to occipital margin with standing flagellate hairs and ventral surface of head with a number of shorter erect flagellate hairs. Flagellate hairs present on promesonotal dorsum and its dorsolateral margins; also present on waist segments and first gastral tergite. Ventral surface of each femur with a spaced row of erect fine hairs. Cephalic dorsum with sculpture increasing in intensity from front to back. Anterior vertex unsculptured; at about level of eyes the surface becomes at first punctulate then reticulate-punctate; posteriorly the reticulae become larger and occipitally the surface is finely reticulate-rugulose. Cuticle within scrobe finely superficially reticulate though in most lights appearing partially smooth. Dorsal alitrunk with an extensive series of raised crest-like carinae and marginations. Pronotum sharply marginate anteriorly and dorsolaterally. Mesonotal dorsolateral marginations strongly convergent posteriorly and terminating in a short transverse crest just anterior to the propodeum. Midline of promesonotum with strong laminate longitudinal crest throughout its length; crest higher on mesonotum than on pronotum. Dorsolateral marginations of propodeum closely approximated anteriorly, strongly divergent posteriorly and confluent with the broad lamellae on the propodeal declivity. Peduncle of petiole with a pair of dorsolateral cuticular crests that partially ascend the anterior face of the node. Alitrunk and waist segments otherwise unsculptured; gaster unsculptured except for basigastral costulae.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Madagascar: Provo Antsiranana, R. S. Manongarivo, 17.3 km. 218° SW Antanambao, 1580 m., 14°01.3'S, 48°25.1'E, 27.x.1998, #1970(50)-2, sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), montane  rainforest (B.L. Fisher).