Strumigenys morisitai

Barry Bolton (2000) had this to say about the peculiar mandible morphology of this species: "Even in a genus such as Pyramica, where peculiarly shaped mandibles are commonplace, the utterly bizarre structure encountered in Strumigenys morisitai still promotes a sense of wonder. The shape evolved here is unique and its purpose impossible to determine. The relatively broad club-shaped basal portions of the mandibles contrast very strongly with the much narrower forceps-like apical portions, and these project down from the basal portions at a marked angle. Teeth are very small and restricted to the extreme apex, which is the only place on the apical portion where both blades fully engage."

Identification
Bolton (2000) – The only member of the Strumigenys morisitai-group. This species has such peculiar mandibular morphology that it could not be mistaken for any other.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Japan.

Nomenclature

 *  morisitai. Smithistruma morisitai Ogata & Onoyama, 1998: 284, figs. 16-18 (w.) JAPAN. Combination in Pyramica Bolton, 1999: 1673; in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 124. See also: Bolton, 2000: 449.

Worker
Bolton (2000) - TL 1.7, HL 0.44, HW 0.32, CI 73, ML 0.13-0.16, MI 30-35, SL 0.20-0.22, SI 63-69, PW 0.20-0.21, AL 0.42-0.45 (2 measured). In full-face view the club-like basal portion of the mandible with numerous appressed short spatulate hairs, these hairs slightly shorter and somewhat more dense than those on the clypeus. Entire dorsum of head finely reticulate-punctate, without standing hairs of any form; the flagellate apicoscrobal is the only specialised hair on the head. Eye small, of only 4 ommatidia in total and just visible in full-face view. Dorsal alitrunk, declivity of propodeum and dorsum of petiole finely reticulate-punctate. Mesopleuron and metapleuron smooth and shining. Basigastral costulae short but sharply defined, occurring across the width of the first gastral tergite, without a central costula-free area. Postpetiole disc and gaster smooth.

Type Material
Bolton (2000) - Holotype and paratype workers, JAPAN: Higashi, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa I., 14.xi.1975 (T. Abe) [examined].