Strumigenys hyphata

Identification
Bolton (2000) - This distinctive species was described in detail by Brown (l953a), who tentatively placed it in the otherwise Nearctic ornata-group, “until the Neotropical fauna is much better known”, because of its remarkable clypeal pilosity. This pilosity immediately diagnoses hyphata and at first glance does seem similar to members of the ornata-group. However, as other aspects of their morphologies do not correspond at species-group level, and as the specialised hairs are restricted to the clypeus alone in the ornata-group and are very differently arranged and oriented, independent origins must be suspected. Brown (1953a) pointed out that hyphata was “distinct enough on several counts to warrant placement in a separate group”, and that course has been followed here.

Apart from the unique cephalic pilosity hyphata has a low basal lamella that extends to the posterior margin of the basal tooth, and has the three basal teeth subequal in size. Its scapes are narrow and subcylindrical, without flagellate or hook-shaped hairs. Flagellate hairs occur on the waist segments and first gastral tergite; those at the pronotal humeri and on the mesonotum arise from conspicuous tubercles.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Bolivia, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela.

Nomenclature

 *  hyphata. Smithistruma (Smithistruma) hyphata Brown, 1953g: 110 (w.) TRINIDAD. Combination in Pyramica: Bolton, 1999: 1673; in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 121. See also: Bolton, 2000: 198.

Worker
TL 2.0-2.1, HL 0.56-0.60, HW 0.35-0.38, CI 60-65, ML 0.09-0.11, MI 15-17, SL 0.33-0.34, SI 89-94, PW 0.25-0.28, AL 0.56-0.62 (5 measured).

Clypeal dorsum, and anterior one-third of cephalic dorsum immediately behind clypeus, with numerous long wire-like, very broadly curved conspicuous hairs that are mostly slightly thickened apically. Clypeus with 6-7 pairs of these hairs; head immediately behind clypeus with 5-6 pairs. On anterior half of clypeus these hairs are directed anteriorly or anterolaterally from their bases, some project far beyond the clypeal margins. The hairs then curve broadly upward and back approximately toward their points of origin. Posteriorly on clypeus the hairs are longer and directed more vertically from their bases before arching toward the midline. A pair of even longer hairs arises from the frontal lobes and projects laterally far beyond the lateral margins of the head before arching upward and back toward the midline. The remaining cephalic pairs are directed posterolaterally or posteriorly from their bases and then pass through a broad upward and then anteromedial curve. Lateral margins of clypeus, especially posteriorly, with a few much shorter, simple to narrowly spatulate hairs that curve anteriorly. This characteristic pilosity very conspicuous in profile.

Type Material
Holotype worker and paratype worker, TRINIDAD: Northern, Range, Foothills N of Tunapuna, 25.v. 1935, no. 1 80 (N.A. Weber) [examined].