Strumigenys kompsomala

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys splendens-group. S. kompsomala is immediately diagnosed within the group by its extremely reduced ventral postpetiolar lobe and possession of a median dorsal tooth on the mesonotum. Like Strumigenys rugithorax and Strumigenys villiersi, kompsomala has flagellate hairs projecting from the dorsolateral margin of the head and freely projecting hairs on the middle and hind tibiae. However, kompsomala lacks the upcurved anterior clypeal margin seen in rugithorax, and does not have the exposed preocular carinae that occur in villiersi.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia.

Nomenclature

 *  kompsomala. Pyramica kompsomala Bolton, 2000: 234 (w.) COLOMBIA. Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 122

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.3, HL 0.64, HW 0.44, CI 69, ML 0.08, MI 13, SL 0.28, SI 64, PW 0.24, AL 0.66. With head in full-face view the clypeus not expanded laterally, outer margins of mandibles visible to level of preocular carinae. Anteriormost curve of preocular carina just visible anterior to frontal lobe, posterior to this entirely concealed by the laterally expanded frontal lobe and frontal carina. Outer edges of upper scrobe margins divergent posteriorly but not sinuate. Vertex smooth and shining except in the short depressed area immediately in front of the occipital margin; expanded frontal carinae finely and densely sculptured, semitranslucent and lacking fenestrae behind level of antennal insertion. Apicoscrobal hair long and flagellate; dorsolateral margin of occipital lobe, close to occipital corner, with a number of shorter fine projecting hairs. Cephalic dorsum near occipital margin with a few standing hairs and anteroventral margination of head in front of eye with a row of fine acute hairs that point downward and forward. Pronotal dorsum transversely convex, feebly sculptured and with a weak median carina, humeral hair flagellate. Dorsal alitrunk with numerous fine standing hairs. Mesonotum, close to metanotal groove, with a short truncated vertical tooth on the midline. Sides of alitrunk smooth; propodeal dorsum and declivity reticulate to reticulate-punctate. With postpetiole in profile the lateral spongiform lobe large, arching out and downward; ventral lobe very reduced, represented only by a small triangular spongiform process anteriorly on the sternite. Base of gaster markedly dorsoventrally compressed, very narrow in profile. Long fine hairs present of first gastral tergite. Dorsal (outer) surfaces of tibiae, and other segments of legs, with numerous suberect to erect fine projecting hairs. Basigastral costulae absent.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Colombia: Putumayo, Villa Garzon, 25.vii.1977 (D. Jackson).