Strumigenys buleru

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the buleru complex in the Strumigenys horvathi-group. Brown (1988b, 1988c) stresses the close relationship between buleru and Strumigenys cochlearis, pointing out that the differences in size and in the mandibles offer the best chance of species discrimination. S. buleru is a somewhat larger species in which the mandibles are shorter, straighter and stouter than in cochlearis. However, in the material I have seen buleru always has a better developed lamella on the inner margin of the mandible than does cochlearis, and the former also tends to have reduced sculpture in the upper half of the scrobe.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  buleru. Strumigenys buleru Brown, 1988c: 39, fig. (w.q.) AUSTRALIA. See also: Bolton, 2000: 973.

Worker
TL 3.5-3.7, HL 0.79-0.90, HW 0.64-0.74, CI 79-84, ML 0.34-0.38, MI 40-46, SL 0.49-0.60, SI 76-83, PW 0.38-0.40, AL 0.90-0.97 (15 measured).

Characters of buleru-complex. With head in full-face view and mandibles fully closed outer margin of mandible more or less straight from level of preapical tooth to basal inflection. Conical preapical tooth of mandible subtended by a translucent cuticular lamella that commences just proximal of the tooth and extends along the inner mandibular margin to the base. Maximum width of lamella one-quarter to one-third length of preapical tooth. Head finely and densely reticulate-punctate everywhere except in upper half of scrobe, where sculpture is superficially reticulate and less sharply defined than on cephalic dorsum. Ground-pilosity on dorsum of head, and fringing upper scrobe margins and leading edge of scape, curved spatulate; all hairs of approximately the same size. Scrobe deep and sharply defined; in full-face view outer curvature of eye visible. Entire alitrunk finely reticulate-punctate, without smooth areas anywhere on side. Petiole reticulate-punctate; disc of postpetiole similarly but somewhat more weakly sculptured, or with a smoother or weakly costulate patch anteromedially. Ground-pilosity of alitrunk same as on head; dorsal alitrunk without standing hairs. Hairs on first gastral tergite stiffly spatulate, broadened apically to weakly remiform, quite short and dense.

Type Material
Holotype worker, AUSTRALIA: New South Wales, Deep Water, 5.xii.1949, no. 10299 (T. Greaves); New South Wales, Armidale, 31.viii.1956 (B. B. Lowery); Queensland, Mt Lofty, Toowoomba, 15.iv.1972 (L. Weatherill); Biloela, in nest of Pseudoneoponera oculata (F. A. Cudmore); Queensland, 10 miles W Crow’s Nest, 440 m, 23.xi.1962 (Ross & Cavagnaro); Victoria, Heathcote, 26.v.1961 (B. B. Lowery) [examined].