Strumigenys horvathi

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the horvathi complex in the Strumigenys horvathi-group. S. horvathi differs from Strumigenys snellingi as the latter has a conspicuous pronotal humeral hair. In the material available the mandibles of horvathi appear slightly shorter (MI 35-40) than in snellingi (MI 42-46).

Strumigenys guttulata, from Queensland, Australia, is very similar to horvathi and the two may eventually prove to be con specific. For the present material representing these two nominal forms separate on differences in sculpture because in guttulata the postpetiole disc, as well as the entire side of the alitrunk is reticulate-punctate.

Brown (1973c) pointed out that because of the variation he observed he suspected that horvathi may include more than one sibling species. To the present not enough material has been amassed to analyse the situation properly.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Indonesia, New Guinea.

Nomenclature

 *  horvathi. Strumigenys horvathi Emery, 1897c: 577, pl. 14, fig. 8 (w.) NEW GUINEA. Brown, 1973c: 261 (q.). See also: Bolton, 2000: 833.

Worker
Bolton (2000) - TL 2.0-2.4, HL 0.55-0.66, HW 0.43-0.52, CI 75-79, ML 0.22-0.26, MI 35-40, SL 0.28-0.32, SI 61-65, PW 0.24-0.28, AL 0.52-0.64 (8 measured).

Dorsal surfaces of head and promesonotum densely clothed with scale-like to suborbicular ground-pilosity, the hairs strongly curved and closely applied to the surface. Posteriorly on mesonotum these hairs are more elevated than elsewhere; there are no erect hairs anywhere on the cephalic and alitrunk dorsa. Pronotal humeral hairs absent. First gastral tergite with numerous erect stiff hairs that are slightly thickened or flattened apically, or weakly remiform. Dorsum of head and alitrunk reticulate-punctate but sculpture much concealed by ground-pilosity. Side of alitrunk with a smooth area on katepisternum and usually also on side of pronotum. Disc of postpetiole apparently unsculptured, or at most weakly shagreenate, when clean.

Type Material
Bolton (2000) - Holotype worker, PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Hansemann Mts (L. Biro) [examined].