Strumigenys dolabra

Known from litter samples collected in tropical dry forest.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the alapa complex in the Strumigenys arnoldi-group. Within the arnoldi-group with 6 antennal segments, dolabra and Strumigenys toma are separated from all other members by having the following in combination.

1 Cephalic dorsum without hairs on posterior third which are similar in shape to hairs on leading edge of scape.

2 Pronotal humeri and mesonotum without erect hairs.

3 Base of first gastral tergite with few basal costulae.

4 Propodeum in profile terminating in a blunt angle.

5 Lamella on propodeal declivity broad.

S. dolabra is distinguished from toma as follows.

S. dolabra

1 First gastral tergite with punctulate-reticulate sculpture restricted to region of basal costulae, remainder smooth.

2 In full-face view cephalic dorsum with clavate to spoon-shaped hairs on anterior two-thirds, rows of hairs absent from vertex, posterior to apex of upper scrobe margin.

S. toma

1 First gastral tergite covered in punctulate- to granulate-reticulate sculpture, at least on lateral margins posteriorly.

2 In full-face view cephalic dorsum with broadly scale-like to orbicular hairs on anterior two-thirds, extending on to vertex, posterior to apex of upper scrobe margin.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 *  dolabra. Strumigenys dolabra Fisher, in Bolton, 2000: 631 (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Holotype. TL 1.7, HL 0.40, HW 0.38, CI 94, ML 0.11, MI 28, SL 0.19, SI 50, PW 0.23, AL 0.45. Characters of alapa-complex. Mandible with a single preapical tooth. Anterolateral margin of clypeus with medially curved spoon-shaped hair that is larger and more conspicuous than hairs found on anterior margin of clypeus. Cephalic dorsum posterior of clypeal margin with spoon-shaped hairs on anterior two thirds; upper scrobe margin with spoon-shaped hairs. Pronotal humeral hair absent; mesonotum without standing hairs. In profile, promesonotal dorsum very shallowly convex anteriorly; propodeal dorsum gradually sloping posteriorly to the declivity and posteriorly meeting the sides in a blunt diverging angle. Propodeal dorsum meeting the declivity in a blunt angle without a noticeable tooth. Ventral spongiform tissue well developed and conspicuous on propodeum, petiole and postpetiole. In profile, spongiform lamella on propodeal declivity broad, approximately half the width of ventral spongiform curtain on petiole. First gastral tergite with few basigastral costulae. Punctulate-reticulate sculpture on tergite restricted to region of basal costulae, remainder of tergite smooth. Hairs on postpetiole and gaster filiform. Color pale brown.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Madagascar: Provo Toliara, southern Isoky-Vohimena Forest, 22°41'S, 44°50'E, 730 m., 21.i.1996, sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), tropical dry forest, # 1312 (5)-3 (S. Razajimandimby).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65
 * Fisher B. L. 2003. Formicidae, ants. Pp. 811-819 in: Goodman, S. M.; Benstead, J. P. (eds.) 2003. The natural history of Madagascar. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, xxi + 1709 pp.