Strumigenys karawajewi

Widely distributed in the Malesian region, this is the only species of the capitata-group to have been found in Australia.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys capitata-group. S. karawajewi is closely related to Strumigenys dohertyi and shares a similar wide distribution. The two form a close species-pair characterised within the group by their possession of apicoscrobal and pronotal humeral (where they may be looped apically) flagellate hairs. The two are distinguished by the persistently small size of karawajewi (compare measurements), its possession of only a single pair of standing hairs on the mesonotal dorsum and its relatively slightly shorter scapes (SI 56-60 in karawajewi, SI 62-72 in dohertyi).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: United Republic of Tanzania. Australasian Region: Australia. Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia, Micronesia (Federated States of), New Guinea, Palau, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Tonga.

Biology
Brown (1964) -  Smithistruma dubia (=Strumigenys karawajewi) is a New Guinea ant that has spread to certain Pacific island areas, possibly by way of human commerce. New Guinea, rain forest. From Western Samoa, north coast of Upolu, leaf litter and soil berlesate, rain forest.

Nomenclature

 * emeryi. Strumigenys (Cephaloxys) emeryi Karavaiev, 1935a: 106, fig. 25 (q.) INDONESIA (Sumatra). [Junior primary homonym of Strumigenys emeryi Mann, 1922: 37.] Replacement name: karawajewi Brown, 1948b: 44.
 *  karawajewi. Strumigenys (Trichoscapa) karawajewi Brown, 1948b: 44. Replacement name for emeryi Karavaiev, 1935a: 106. [Junior primary homonym of emeryi Mann, 1922: 37.] Combination in Smithistruma: Brown, 1948e: 105; in Trichoscapa: Brown, 1995: 219; in Pyramica: Bolton, 1999: 1673; in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 122. Senior synonym of dubia: Brown, 1995: 219. See also: Brown, 1953g: 124; Bolton, 2000: 400.
 * dubia. Smithistruma (Smithistruma) dubia Brown, 1953g: 122, pl. 1, fig. 13 (w.q.) PALAU IS. Junior synonym of karawajewi: Brown, 1995: 219.

Description
Bolton (2000) - TL 1.8-2.1, HL 0.46-0.52, HW 0.37-0.41, CI 79-83, ML 0.09-0.11, MI 20-23, SL 0.22-0.24, SI 56-60, PW 0.24-0.28, AL 0.48-0.53 (20 measured).

Apicoscrobal hair flagellate. Dorsum of head in profile with a transverse row of 4 standing hairs close to the occipital margin, and with a single pair of similar hairs just in front of the highest point of the vertex. Eye with 3-4 ommatidia in the longest row. Pronotal humeral hair flagellate or apically looped. Dorsum of mesonotum with a single pair of weakly remiform to feebly elongate-clavate stout standing hairs. Lamella of propodeal declivity narrow and inconspicuous. Petiole node in dorsal view as broad as or broader than long. Disc of postpetiole glassy smooth when clean (frequently with a waxy surface bloom present). First gastral tergite either with 3 transverse rows of standing hairs which are located basally, medially and apically, or with apical and basal transverse rows between which is a median pair of hairs, or with apical and basal transverse rows only.

Type Material
Bolton (2000) - Holotype queen, INDONESIA: Sumatra, Siak, Nr. 5414 (O. John) [examined].