Strumigenys tukulta

Known from primary forest and cocoa, one record notes the specimen was taken from a litter-sample.

Identification
A member of the Strumigenys thuvida-group.

Bolton (1983) - Closest related to Strumigenys thuvida, differences separating the species are given below. The most obvious character separating tukulta from all other members of the genus except Strumigenys ravidura is the dense covering of scale-like hairs everywhere on the head and its appendages. G. ravidura is a much larger darker species than tukulta and the characters given in their respective species-group diagnoses will differentiate the two.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Ghana, Ivory Coast.

Nomenclature

 *  tukulta. Glamyromyrmex tukultus Bolton, 1983: 334, fig. 29 (w.) IVORY COAST. Combination in Pyramica: Bolton, 1999: 1672; in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 130. See also: Bolton, 2000: 333.

Worker
Holotype. TL 1.6, HL 0.41, HW 0.29, CI 71, ML 0.10, MI 24, SL 0.16, SI 55, PW 0.20, AL 0.44.

Mandibles covered in small scale-like appressed hairs. Basalmost tooth following the basal lamella without a diastema, slightly smaller than the second tooth; all teeth after the second approximately the same size except teeth nine and ten which are much reduced. There is a tendency for alternating slightly smaller and slightly larger teeth in the principal dental row_ In profile the mandibles broadening from base to apex, the upper margin not conspicuously raised above the level of the anterior clypeal margin and with a plateau-like slightly convex outline before arching steeply downwards. Anterior clypeal margin transverse. Frontal lobes not distinctly convex, their margins more or less parallel, the width across the frontal lobes from edge to edge conspicuously less than the maximum width of the clypeus; the preocular laminae plainly visible in full-face view. Sides of head behind the frontal lobes shallowly convex and divergent. Occipital margin evenly concave. Eyes small, situated on the ventral margin of the short but deep antennal scrobe. Antennal scapes in full- face view with the leading edges moderately convex but distinctly indented near the base, without projecting hairs but equipped with appressed small scale-like hairs which are also present on the funicular segments. Clypeus and entire dorsum of head densely clothed with appressed scale-like hairs which are directed anteriorly, the hairs situated more posteriorly on the head narrower and more spatulate than those sited further forwards. Head without other pilosity of any description. Clypeus smooth, the cephalic dorsum behind the clypeus finely reticulate-punctate but the sculpture largely concealed by the pilosity. Anterior pronotal border marginate, the sides not marginate. Sides of mesonotum extremely feebly marginate and sides of propodeum slightly more strongly so, the two segments confluent on the dorsum, not separated by a transverse ridge or crest; the metanotal groove absent. Propodeal teeth entirely incorporated in the infradental lamellae. Sides of alitrunk un sculptured and shining. Dorsal alitrunk smooth and shining everywhere. Pronotum with three pairs of short erect simple hairs, one pair at the humeri, one pair anterodorsally and another posterodorsally; mesonotum with a single pair of short erect hairs. Apart from these the dorsal alitrunk with decumbent to appressed small hairs which are directed towards the midline; those on the pronotum narrowly spatulate. In profile the spongiform appendages of the pedicel segments massively developed, the petiolar ventral appendage running the length of the segment, finely and densely spongiform and almost as deep as the maximum height of the node. Lateral and ventral postpetiolar appendages thick and the basisternal pad on the gaster conspicuous. Petiole node in dorsal view smooth, about as long as broad and with sharply defined anterior and posterior borders. Lamellate appendage of node continuous across the posterior margin. Disc of postpetiole smooth and shining, much broader than long and thickly surrounded at the sides by dense spongiform tissue, a lobe of which projects strongly forwards from below the disc on each side of the petiole-postpetiole junction. Anterior border of postpetiolar disc with a narrow lamellate margin. Base of first gastral tergite with a thick costulate-spongiform transverse strip, the anterior margin of which is very feebly concave medially. Basigastral costulae mostly confined to this strip, only feebly encroaching onto the tergite proper at the sides. Petiole, postpetiole and gaster with fine simple hairs, the first also with a few narrowly spatulate reclinate hairs. Colour glossy dull yellow.

Paratypes. TL 1.6, HL 0.42, HW 0.29-0.30, CI 69-71, ML 0.10, MI 24, SL 0.16-0.17, SI 55-59, PW 0.20, AL 0.44 (3 measured).

As holotype but infradental lamellae may have a point developed apically.

Bolton (2000) - TL 1.6-1.7, HL 0.41-0.42, HW 0.29-0.30, CI 69-71, ML 0.10-0.11, MI 24-26, SL 0.16-0.17, SI 54-59, PW 0.19-0.21, AL 0.44-0.45 (8 measured).

Type Material
Holotype worker, Ivory Coast: Bingerville, 29.x.1980 (V. Mahnert & J. -L. Perret).

Paratypes. 3 workers with same data as holotype (MHNG; ; ).