Strumigenys zandala

One of the two non-type collections of this ant was taken from a montane forest litter-sample.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys scotti-group. Outer margin of mandible shallowly convex and evenly curved. Curved hairs that fringe upper scrobe margin small and narrowly spatulate, only very slightly longer than hairs on leading edge of scape. Scape much shorter (SI, above) than in the closely related Strumigenys sibyna (SI 90-93). Maximum diameter of eye greater than maximum width of slender scape; eye with about 20 ommatidia in total. Preocular notch absent. Petiole node in dorsal view broader than long. Hairs on first gastral tergite short, stiff and simple, pointed apically.

Bolton (1983) - S. zandala is closely related to Strumigenys scotti and Strumigenys hastyla. It is separated from the first of these by its shorter mandibles and scapes and by the shape of the petiole node in dorsal view which is broader than long in zandala and at least as long as broad (sometimes longer than broad) in scotti. S. hastyla is a smaller species than zandala and has the standing hairs on the gaster distinctly swollen or flattened apically in dorsal view. There is a possibility that hastyla and zandala may represent extremes of a single species but for the present I am treating them as separate species.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Cameroun, Equatorial Guinea.

Nomenclature

 *  zandala. Strumigenys zandala Bolton, 1983: 399,fig. 66 (w.) EQUATORIAL GUINEA. Bolton, 2000: 612.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.3, HL 0.60, HW 0.42, CI 70, ML 0.27, MI 45, SL 0.34, SI 81, PW 0.27, AL 0.60.

Mandibles slender in full-face view, the external margins very shallowly evenly convex and the blades about the same width from the proximal pre apical tooth to the base where they are somewhat narrowed and inflected. Apical fork of each blade with 2 teeth, without intercalary teeth or denticles. Each mandibular blade with 2 preapical teeth, the proximal longer and slightly stouter than the distal, both teeth distinctly within the apical third of the length of the blade. Distance separating the bases of the preapical teeth less than the length of the distal tooth. Upper scrobe margins evenly and shallowly convex in full-face view, the eyes visible, the apices of the upper scrobe margins confluent with the sides of the occipital lobes through an even curve, without an angle separating the two. Eyes moderate, with 19-20 ommatidia, the maximum diameter greater than the maximum width of the scape. Preocular notch absent, the ventral surface of the head without a transverse preocular groove or impression. Antennal scapes slender and subcylindrical, curved weakly near the base and with their leading edges equipped with a row of slender flattened hairs which are narrowly spatulate to spoon-shaped and curved towards the apex. Dorsum of head densely clothed with curved narrowly spatulate to slender spoon-shaped ground-pilosity, the upper scrobe margins fringed by a dense row of similar hairs, these hairs slightly larger than those on the scapes. Dorsum of head with 6 standing hairs arranged in a row of 4 close to the occipital margin and a more anteriorly situated pair. Dorsum of head densely reticulate-punctate. Pronotal humeri each with a single fine flagellate hair. Mesonotum with a single pair of simple standing hairs. Ground-pilosity of dorsal alitrunk of narrow curved flattened hairs. Posterior portion of mesonotum shallowly depressed behind the level of the hairs. Metanotal groove feebly impressed. Propodeal teeth triangular and subtended by narrow infradental lamellae. Sides of pronotum superficially punctulate and with some feeble rugulae anteriorly. Upper third to half of mesopleuron, upper third of metapleuron and portion of propodeum above and behind the spiracle densely punctate; lower portions of these segments smooth. Pronotal dorsum very feebly longitudinally rugulose and with punctate sculpture, remainder of dorsal alitrunk and petiole node reticulate-punctate. Postpetiole smooth. Spongiform appendages of pedicel segments well developed, the petiole with a broad ventral strip. Postpetiole with large lateral and ventral lobes, the latter larger than the former and larger than the exposed area of the disc in profile. In dorsal view the petiole node broader than long and the postpetiole surrounded by spongiform tissue, the lateral lobes projecting sideways beyond the outline of the disc. Basigastral costulae fine, arising on each side of a central clear area. Dorsal surfaces of petiole, postpetiole and gaster with simple standing hairs. Colour light brownish yellow.

Paratypes. TL 2.2-2.3, HL 0.59-0.61, HW 0.42-0.44, CI 70-73, ML 0.26-0.27, MI 43-45, SL 0.33-0.35, SI 75-81, PW 0.24-0.30, AL 0.57-0.63 (10 measured). As holotype.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Equatorial Guinea: Annobon I., 400--500 m, v.1902 (L. Fea). Paratypes. 27 workers with same data as holotype (MCSN; ; ).