Strumigenys xenohyla

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys scotti-group. Outer margins of mandibles more or less straight, without a sharply inflected basal-external angle. Proximal preapical tooth very long, spiniform, much longer than maximum width of mandible. Length of left proximal preapical tooth greater than distance separating it from left apicodorsal tooth. Left distal preapical tooth more than half the length of the proximal. Eyes moderate in size (ca 0.15 X HW) but only slightly greater than maximum width of scape as the latter is somewhat dorsoventrally flattened and expanded. Preocular notch vestigial. Leading edge of scape, and upper scrobe margin, fringed with very conspicuous thickly spoon-shaped hairs. Propodeal dorsum smooth and shining.

Bolton (1983) - Measurements of the two non-paratypic specimens show HL 0.64-0.67, HW 0.53, Cl 79-83, ML 0.32-0.33, MI 48-51, SL 0.36, SI 68.

Among the species in which the preocular notch is present but not extended as a groove or impression across the ventral surface of the head, xenohyla is recognized by its broad flange or rim bordering the upper scrobe margins, flattened scapes, large spoon-shaped hairs on the scapes and upper scrobe margins which are about equal in size, reduced sculpture on the dorsal alitrunk and well-developed spongiform appendages.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Cameroun.

Nomenclature

 *  xenohyla. Strumigenys xenohyla Bolton, 1983: 398, figs. 54, 73 (w.) CAMEROUN. See also: Bolton, 2000: 612.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.3, HL 0.60, HW 0.47, CI 78, ML 0.29, MI 48, SL 0.33, SI 70, PW 0.27, AL 0.58.

Apical fork of each mandible with a pair of spiniform teeth, without intercalary teeth or denticles. Pre apical armament on each mandibular blade of 2 teeth, both spiniform but the proximal much the longest. Length of the distal preapical tooth more than twice that of the distance separating the bases of the 2 preapical teeth. Upper scrobe margins bordered by a relatively broad conspicuous projecting lamina which has an irregular free margin and which partially conceals the eyes in full-face view. Eyes of moderate size, about 0.15 X HW but only fractionally larger than the maximum width of the scape because of the broadening of the latter. Preocular notch present but shallow, the anterior portion of the eye not detached from the side of the head and the notch not extending onto the ventral surface of the head as a transverse groove or impression. Antennal scapes shallowly curved basally, broadened in the middle and slightly dorsoventrally flattened. Leading edges of scapes convex and weakly undulate, the undulate rim forming a narrow flange from which the large spoon-shaped hairs arise; these hairs are about equal in size to those on the upper scrobe margins. Ground-pilosity of cephalic dorsum inconspicuous, of narrow spoon-shaped hairs. Upper scrobe margins with an anteriorly curved row of large spoon-shaped hairs. Cephalic dorsum with 6 standing hairs arranged in a transverse row of 4 close to the occipital margin and an anterior pair close to the highest point of the vertex. Dorsum of head reticulate-punctate. Pronotal humeri each with a long fine flagellate hair. Mesonotum with a single pair of stout standing hairs which are broadly clavate apically. Ground-pilosity of dorsal alitrunk of sparse spatulate to narrowly spoon-shaped hairs which are closely applied to the surface. Mesonotum suddenly and steeply depressed behind the level of the hairs. Metanotal groove represented by a line across the dorsum. Propodeal teeth lamellate and confluent with the broad infradental lamellae for more than half their length. Sides of pronotum with a few faint scratch-like marks. Pleurae and sides of propodeum smooth. Pronotal dorsum finely longitudinally costulate, without punctures. Remainder of dorsal alitrunk almost smooth, with only the vaguest traces of punctulate sculpture present. Dorsum of petiole node granular, the postpetiole smooth. Spongiform appendages of pedicel segments well developed, the petiole with a ventral spongiform strip which is more than half the depth of the peduncle, and with a broadly triangular lateral lobe. Ventral spongiform appendage of postpetiole large, larger than the lateral lobe and distinctly much larger than the exposed area of the postpetiolar disc in profile. In dorsal view the petiole node with a lamellate collar posteriorly. Sides of postpetiole with projecting spongiform tissue visible. Base of first gastral tergite with a lamellar transverse strip from which the sparse basigastral costulae radiate on each side of a central smooth area. Petiole, postpetiole and gaster dorsally with stout standing hairs which are thickened apically. Colour dull yellow.

Paratype. TL 2.3, HL 0.61, HW 0.48, CI 79, ML 0.30, MI 49, SL 0.34, SI 71, PW 0.27, AL 0.58.

As holotype.

Bolton (2000) - TL 2.3-2.4, HL 0.60-0.67, HW 0.47-0.53, CI 78-83, ML 0.29-0.33, MI 48-51, SL 0.33-0.36, SI 68-71, PW 0.26-0.27, AL 0.55-0.58 (4 measured).

Type Material
Holotype worker, Cameroun: Nkoemvon, N22, 7.ix.1980 (D. Jackson). Paratype. 1 worker with same data as holotype (BMNH).