Strumigenys panaulax

Only collected a few times, this ant is known from litter samples in forest habitat.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the smythiesii complex in the Strumigenys godeffroyi-group. The form and distribution of sculpture renders this species immediately recognisable. The sculpture of the first gastral tergite is unique. See notes under Strumigenys lichiaensis.

Sarnat and Economo (2012) - Strumigenys panaulax is a small reddish brown species covered with thick decumbent hairs and with striations that extend across the entire length of the first gastral segment. The latter character separates it from all other members of the smythiesii complex, which is discussed in more detail under the identification notes for Strumigenys chernovi.

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

Nomenclature

 *  panaulax. Strumigenys panaulax Bolton, 2000: 811 (w.) FIJI IS.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.2, HL 0.55, HW 0.40, CI 73, ML 0.26, MI 47, SL 0.32, SI 80, PW 0.25, AL 0.59. Characters of smythiesii-complex. Apicoscrobal hair flagellate; the margin anterior and posterior to this without freely projecting hairs. Cephalic dorsum with fine short simple ground-pilosity, the occipital margin with 2-4 fine simple standing hairs that are curved anteriorly; dorsum otherwise without erect hairs. Pronotal humeral hair flagellate. Pronotal dorsum finely obliquely costulate-rugulose; mesonotum punctate and with some weakly developed longitudinal rugulae formed from junction of puncture margins; propodeal dorsum and declivity glassy smooth. Side of pronotum longitudinally or obliquely costulate, almost sulcate; remainder of side of alitrunk glassy smooth. Pronotal dorsum with 1 pair and mesonotum with 1-2 pairs of erect flagellate hairs (all specimens with disturbed main pilosity on dorsal alitrunk). Dorsal (outer) surface of hind tibia with at least one flagellate hair that is similar to that on basitarsus. Propodeal lamella in profile with a straight to shallowly convex posterior (free) margin, but when viewed from behind the lamella seen to be very thick and with a broad posterior margin. Lateral spongiform lobe of petiole small, confined to posterior margin of side of node. Curved dorsum of petiole node in profile much longer than the short anterior face. Ventral lobe of postpetiole large, thin and filmy, lamellate and blister-like rather than spongiform. Dorsum of petiole node transversely costulate; disc of postpetiole densely longitudinally costulate. First gastral tergite densely longitudinally narrowly sulcate or broadly costulate from base to apex and across its entire width, the sculpture very regular; without basigastral costulae that are differentiated from this sculpture. First gastral tergite with sparse standing flagellate hairs and shorter more reclinate simple hairs.

Paratypes. TL 2.1-2.2, HL 0.52-0.56, HW 0.38-0.40, CI 71-74, ML 0.24-0.26, MI 46-47, SL 0.30-0.32, SI 79-80, PW 0.24-0.25, AL 0.55-0.59 (3 measured).

Type Material
Holotype worker, Fiji Is: Vanua Levu, Ndelaikoro, 800 m., 27.x.1977, litter, No. 77/130 (G. Kuschel).

Paratypes. 3 workers with same data as holotype (ANIC, ).



References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65
 * CSIRO Collection
 * Sarnat Eli M. 2009. The Ants [Hymenoptera: Formicdiae] of Fiji: Systematics, Biogeography and Conservation of an Island Arc Fauna. 80-252
 * Ward, Darren F. and James K. Wetterer. 2006. Checklist of the Ants of Fiji. Fiji Arthropods III 85: 23-47.