Strumigenys tethepa

Identification
Bolton (2000) - This relatively large and distinctive species is closely related to Strumigenys terroni, from which it is separated as follows.

S. tethepa: Head extremely dorsoventrally flattened, maximum depth of head in profile only 0.36 X HW. Height of antennal scrobe above eye about half the vertical diameter of the eye. Pronotum marginate laterally and approximately transversely flat in dorsal view. Petiole dorsum as long as broad, its sides divergent posteriorly. Petiole and postpetiole with standing hairs conspicuous on their dorsal surfaces. First gastral tergite with standing hairs distributed all over its surface. Larger species, TL 3.4-3.6, HW 0.66-0.68; scapes shorter, SI 55-56.

S. terroni: Head not remarkably flattened, maximum depth of head in profile 0.63 X HW. Height of antennal scrobe above eye about equal to the vertical diameter of the eye. Pronotum not marginate laterally, transversely evenly convex in dorsal view. Petiole dorsum broader than long, its sides weakly convex. Petiole and postpetiole with an inconspicuous row of spatulate hairs on each posterior margin that projects backwards over the spongiform collars. First gastral tergite without standing hairs. Smaller species, TL 2.5-2.6, HW 0.49-0.51; scapes longer, SI 62-63.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Cameroun.

Nomenclature

 *  tethepa. Pyramica tethepa Bolton, 2000: 328, figs. 214, 236 (w.) CAMEROUN. Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 129

Worker
Holotype. TL 3.4, HL 0.98, HW 0.66, CI 67, ML 0.20, MI 20, SL 0.36, SI 55, PW 0.39, AL 0.94. With head in full-face view the slender, almost parallel-sided, mandibular blades only engage close to their apices. Basal lamella of mandible (from a paratype) very tall, higher than the maximum width of mandible from which it arises. Curved spatulate to spoon-shaped hairs that fringe the clypeus and leading edges of the scapes numerous and very conspicuous. Dorsolateral margins of head behind level of frontal lobes only with minute appressed spatulate hairs that are difficult to see and that are tiny by comparison with those fringing the clypeus. Head remarkably dorsoventrally flattened, see comparative table, below. Eye with 5-6 ommatidia across its greatest diameter. Dorsal surfaces of head behind level of clypeus and promesonotum with appressed minute ground-pilosity that is almost invisible, without standing hairs or conspicuous pilosity of any description. Short erect to suberect straight hairs numerous on dorsa of waist segments and first gastral tergite. Sculpture of cephalic dorsum and promesonotum finely punctulate-granular everywhere, the latter less strongly sculptured than the former and dully shining.

Paratype. TL 3.6, HL 1.00, HW 0.68, CI 68, ML 0.22, MI 22, SL 0.38, SI 56, PW 0.40, AL 0.98 (1 measured).

Type Material
Holotype worker, Cameroun: S of Yaounde, Ototomo For. , no. 1085 (sp. 26) (J.-L. Amiet).

Paratypes. 2 workers with same data as holotype (one badly damaged) (, BMNH).