Strumigenys frivola

The species is apparently quite rare, as it is known only from the type locality at Nadarivatu (Viti Levu), a nest collection from nearby Mt. Tomanivi, and a fogging sample at the nearby Monasavu Dam area (Sarnat and Economo 2012).

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the rofocala complex in the Strumigenys godeffroyi-group. S. frivola separates immediately from the other species grouped here as it is the only one in which the disc of the postpetiole is sculptured. This species is placed here for convenience, its true affinities are indefinite but may lie with other Fijian endemic species such as Strumigenys ekasura and Strumigenys panaulax.

Sarnat and Economo (2012) - Strumigenys frivola is an opaque yellow brown species with punctate sculpture and short recumbent pilosity covering its head, most of the mesosoma, and both waist segments. The basigastral costulae are conspicuous and long, and the propodeum lacks lamellae. Bolton suggests that the species might belong to the smythiesii complex, but places it for convenience in the rofocala complex because it lacks erect flagellate hairs on the dorsal surface of the hind basitarsus.

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

Nomenclature

 *  frivola. Strumigenys frivola Bolton, 2000: 817 (w.) FIJI IS.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.5, HL 0.60, HW 0.44, CI 73, ML 0.25, MI 42, SL 0.37, SI 84, PW 0.29, AL 0.68. Characters of rojocala-complex. Base of sixth antennomere not conspicuously narrowed, not strongly constricted to its articulation with the preapical segment. Apicoscrobal hair short-flagellate; anterior and posterior to this the margin without freely projecting hairs. Cephalic dorsum very densely minutely reticulate-rugulose, minute spaces between the rugulae punctate. In profile cephalic dorsum with 1-2 pairs of short erect simple hairs at the occipital margin, without standing hairs anterior to this. Pronotal humeral hair flagellate, pronotal dorsum otherwise without erect hairs; mesonotum with 1-2 pairs of erect flagellate hairs. Promesonotal dorsum finely and densely chaotically rugulose, spaces between rugulae densely punctate; propodeal dorsum reticulate-punctate and with minute rugulae, the declivity glassy smooth. Katepisternum smooth except for posterolateral margin; metapleuron and side of propodeum with a smooth patch below spiracle. Middle and hind femora, tibiae and basitarsi without erect long hairs. Propodeal teeth narrowly triangular, declivity with a narrow cuticular carina that follows the margin of the declivity, without a broad lamella. Dorsum of petiole node and disc of postpetiole rugulose, the latter predominantly longitudinally so. Hairs on first gastral tergite fine and simple. Basigastral costulae sharply and strongly developed, distinctly longer than disc of postpetiole.

Paratype. TL 2.5, HL 0.62, HW 0.43, CI 69, ML 0.26, MI 42, SL 0.37, SI 86, PW 0.29, AL 0.68.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Fiji Is: Viti Levu, Nadarivatu Res., 850 m., 11.vii.1987, pyrethrum/trees and logs (G. & S. Monteith).

Paratype. 1 worker with same data as holotype.



References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65
 * CSIRO Collection
 * Sarnat Eli M. 2009. The Ants [Hymenoptera: Formicdiae] of Fiji: Systematics, Biogeography and Conservation of an Island Arc Fauna. 80-252
 * Ward, Darren F. and James K. Wetterer. 2006. Checklist of the Ants of Fiji. Fiji Arthropods III 85: 23-47.