Strumigenys sisyrata

Identification
Bolton (2000) -The incredible development of spongiform tissue on alitrunk and waist segments renders this species unmistakable. In extent it is approached only by the Australian Strumigenys philiporum, and to a much lesser degree by Strumigenys kempfi of Borneo. Like sisyrata, the New Guinean species Strumigenys lopotyle also has the petiole node completely concealed b y a bonnet of spongiform tissue, but this appears to be a parallelism as the latter entirely lacks spongiform tissue on the alitrunk and lacks the characteristic preapical dentition of the sisyrata-group.

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

Nomenclature

 *  sisyrata. Strumigenys sisyrata Brown, 1968b: 24, figs. 1, 2 (w.) NEW GUINEA. See also: Bolton, 2000: 902.

Worker
TL 4.5, HL 1.16, HW 0.92, CI 79, ML 0.66, MI 57, SL 0.85, SI 92, PW 0.60, AL 1.18. Apicoscrobal hair present; dorsolateral margin of head without similar laterally projecting long hairs. Ventrolateral margin of head without a preocular impression. Cephalic dorsum finely reticulate-rugulose with weakly punctulate interspaces; dorsum just posterior to level of eye with a pair of short standing hairs that are inclined anteriorly, and with a row of 4 erect simple hairs along occipital margin. Pronotal humeral hair flagellate; pronotal dorsum with 1-2 pairs of flagellate hairs, mesonotum with 5-6 pairs. Entire dorsum of alitrunk, from anterior margin of pronotum to propodeal declivity, covered with close-set flocculent clumps of dense spongiform tissue that have only very narrow channels between them. With alitrunk in profile only the katepisternum free of spongiform tissue and smooth; otherwise entire side of alitrunk covered with the same flocculent clumps of spongiform tissue as the dorsum. Only the apices of the thin, needle-like propodeal spines project from the spongiform mass. Dorsal and ventral surfaces of hind femur with erect fine long hairs; long erect hairs also present on tibia and basitarsus. Petiole node entirely covered and concealed by spongiform tissue, its cuticular surface not visible either dorsally or laterally. In dorsal view anterior third of spongiform mass on petiole node coarse, posterior two-thirds much finer and appearing weakly longitudinally striate or finely combed. Exposed cuticle of disc of postpetiole very small and finely longitudinally costulate, entirely surrounded by masses of spongiform tissue. First gastral tergite with long flagellate hairs. Basigastral costulae restricted to limbus, not extending onto tergite proper.

Type Material
Holotype worker, PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Huon Peninsula, nr Lae, between Busu and Bupu Rivs, 6.v.1955, no. 971, rain forest (E. O. Wilson) [examined].