Strumigenys chernovi

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the smythiesii complex in the Strumigenys godeffroyi-group. This species, apparently restricted to the Fiji Islands, is characterised by having two projecting hairs on the upper scrobe margin, flagellate pronotal humeral hair, densely sculptured promesonotum that contrasts with the glassy smooth propodeal dorsum, densely sculptured postpetiole disc with large membranous ventral lobe, and very long basigastral costulae. See also notes under Strumigenys lichiaensis.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Fiji.

Nomenclature

 *  chernovi. Strumigenys chernovi Dlussky, 1993: 57, figs. 2, 3 (w.q.) FIJI IS. See also: Bolton, 2000: 805.

Worker
Bolton (2000) - TL 2.0-2.4, HL 0.52-0.64, HW 0.38-0.46, CI 70-74, ML 0.22-0.28, MI 42-44, SL 0.28-0.36, SI 73-78, PW 0.23-0.28, AL 0.52-0.59 (10 measured).

Characters of smythiesii-complex. Dorsolateral margin of head with 2 freely laterally projecting fine simple hairs, one at level of eye, the other apicoscrobal. Cephalic dorsum reticulate-punctate, with moderately dense short simple ground-pilosity and 1-2 pairs of short fine standing hairs at the occipital margin; these hairs may be difficult to distinguish from the ground-pilosity and appear to be easily lost. Pronotal humeral hair long, fine and flagellate. Promesonotal dorsum with short curved ground-pilosity only, apparently with 0-1 pairs of fine standing hairs on pronotum and 1-2 pairs on mesonotum. Mesopleuron, metapleuron and side of propodeum smooth and highly polished. Promesonotum dorsally reticulate-punctate, the pronotum also with some feeble longitudinal rugulae anteriorly. Propodeal dorsum glassy smooth and contrasting strongly with the promesonotum. Propodeal tooth short, slender and acute, subtended b y a lamella whose posterior (free) margin is shallowly convex; arc of posterior margin of lamella thickened with respect to the part of the lamella that is closer to the margin of the declivity. Dorsal surface of hind femur with 2 erect fine simple hairs; ventral surface with 2-3 similar hairs. A long erect fine hair also present on dorsal (outer) surface of hind tibia; similar pilosity is repeated on other legs. With petiole in profile the dorsum of the node longer than its anterior face; lateral spongiform lobe small, restricted to posterior half of node. Dorsum of petiole node reticulate-punctate; disc of postpetiole finely and densely longitudinally costulate, spaces between costulae finely punctulate-shagreenate. Ventral lobe of postpetiole very large, membranous rather than spongiform, forming an extensive blister-like translucent canopy that envelopes the base of the first gastral sternite. First gastral tergite with simple fine hairs and long ground-pilosity. Basigastral costulae dense, long and fine, extending almost half the length of the tergite and distinctly longer than the postpetiole disc.

Type Material
Bolton (2000) - Holotype worker, paratype workers and queen: FIJI IS: Viti Levu, Suvy, ii.1977 (Y. I. Chernov) [not seen].