Strumigenys ferocior

Known from a few rainforest litter samples.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the mayri complex in the Strumigenys mayri-group. Very closely related to Strumigenys missina and Strumigenys mayri; see notes under Strumigenys akhtoi and missina.

Brown (1973) - Although S. ferocior is very close to Strumigenys mayri, it was taken at a locality where Taylor and Feehan also secured samples of mayri, and the two forms are readily distinguished in this sympatric situation. Taylor sent it as a "species G," distinct from the mayri sample in the same shipment. Probably ferocior is a localized sibling species on the southern periphery of the mayri range in Cape York.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia. Indo-Australian Region: New Guinea.

Nomenclature

 *  ferocior. Strumigenys ferocior Brown, 1973c: 266, fig. 3 (w.q.) AUSTRALIA. See also: Bolton, 2000: 882.

Worker
Holotype: TL 2.6, HL 0.69, HW 0.49, WL 0.66, scape L 0.47, L right hind femur 0.51, tibia 0.40, tarsus including claws 0.65, eye diameter 0.04, petiole L 0.25 mm; CI 71, MI 52.

Larger and relatively more slender than Strumigenys mayri. Habitus tending toward that of Strumigenys szalayi, but occipital lobes not depressed, and spongiform appendages as in S. mayri. Slightly smaller than Strumigenys hoplites, and propodeal teeth shorter (slightly longer than the distance between the centers of their bases). Pleura of trunk entirely sculptured and opaque, except for a small, narrow strip along the lower anterior mesopleuron that can be seen at all only in exactly the right light. Postpetiole finely reticulate-punctulate, opaque. Ground pilosity of head fairly well developed, but very sparse on trunk. Erect hairs of medium length, stiff, bluntly pointed. Color light ferruginous; gaster a little darker, more brownish.

Bolton (2000) - TL 2.5-2.7, HL 0.68-0.74, HW 0.46-0.51, CI 68-70, ML 0.35-0.38, MI 49-54, SL 0.46-0.51, SI 96-102, PW 0.26-0.30, AL 0.64-0.72 (20 measured).

Characters of the mayri-complex. Preapical tooth spiniform, its length about equal to maximum width of mandible. Cephalic dorsum with 4-6 erect simple hairs along the occipital margin and a similar pair at level of highest point of vertex. With head in full-face view the upper scrobe margin above the eye not obscuring junction of eye with head capsule, entire eye visible. Preocular notch conspicuous; ventral surface of head with a shallow preocular transverse impression. Pronotal humeral hair simple, pronotum otherwise without erect hairs; mesonotum with one pair of erect simple hairs. Dorsal alitrunk evenly reticulate-punctate. Dorsal surfaces of waist segments and gastral tergites with simple stiff hairs. Katepisternum with a smooth patch on lower half; metapleuron and side of propodeum reticulate-punctate. Propodeum armed with a pair of short spines, length of spine slightly greater than distance separating their bases but less than dorsal width of petiole node. Dorsal (outer) surface of hind basitarsus without long fine erect hairs. Petiole in profile with anterior face of node not markedly less than length of dorsum, in dorsal view petiole node slightly broader than long to about as broad as long. Disc of postpetiole finely and densely reticulate-punctate.

Queen
Two dealate paratypes with the same data as the workers. TL 3.0, HL 0.70, HW 0.51, ML 0.36, scape L 0.45, WL 0.71 mm; CI 73, MI 51.

Type Material
Bolton (2000) - Holotype worker, AUSTRALIA: Queensland, Cape York Peninsula, Iron Range, 14.vi.1971, rain forest berlesate (R. W. Taylor & J. Feehan); paratype workers and queen, AUSTRALIA: same lac., 9-15.vi.1971 (Taylor & Feehan) [examined]. Further specimens of both the holotype and paratype series, not seen by Brown (1973c), are present in ANIC.