Strumigenys kyroma

Two collections of this species have come from rotten logs in rainforest.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys loriae-group. Within the group all species except Strumigenys chyzeri either lack preapical teeth or have short preapical teeth that arise, quite normally, from the inner margin of the mandible. S. chyzeri is instantly distinguished as its preapical teeth arise from the dorsal surface of the mandible, well above and away from the inner margin.

Of the remaining species one, Strumigenys pachycephala, has no preapical tooth on the mandible; two, Strumigenys loriae and Strumigenys festigona, have reticulate-punctate sculpture on the postpetiole disc and have relatively long basigastral costulae. The other three usually lack such postpetiole sculpture and have short or very short basigastral costulae: Strumigenys odalatra, Strumigenys kyroma and Strumigenys retothra. The first of these is easily distinguished as it possesses long erect fine hairs on the middle and hind basitarsi, has two quite large and conspicuous intercalary teeth between the apicodorsal and apicoventral mandibular teeth, and has pilosity on the first gastral tergite that is of short erect-spatulate to short-remiform hairs. For differentiation of kyroma from its closest relative retothra see under the latter name.

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

Nomenclature

 *  kyroma. Strumigenys kyroma Bolton, 2000: 862 (w.q.) NEW GUINEA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 3.6, HL 1.07, HW 0.90, CI 84, ML 0.48, MI 45, SL 0.66, SI 73, PW 0.42, AL 1.00. Preapical tooth on mandible stoutly conical and weakly recurved. In full-face view side of head in front of preocular impression expanded into a bluntly triangular projection. Cephalic dorsum with scattered fine rugulae overlying reticulate-punctate sculpture. Dorsolateral margin of occipital lobe with a few short stiff projecting hairs that are apically blunt or slightly expanded and splayed out. In profile cephalic dorsum with short stiff standing hairs present at highest point of vertex and near occipital margin, but absent from concavity of transverse dorsal impression. Dorsum of pronotum with a pair of standing hairs close to its anterodorsal margin, anterior to the humeral pair. Pleurae and side of propodeum reticulate-punctate. Propodeal spines slender, straight or weakly upcurved. Bulla of femoral gland on hind leg visible, approximately same size as bulla of the hind tibial gland. Dorsal (outer) surfaces of middle and hind basitarsi without erect long fine simple hairs. Petiole node low-subconical in profile, the lateral spongiform lobe little more than an extension of the collar. Depth of ventral spongiform strip on petiole less than half depth of peduncle but strip extends whole length of petiole. Petiole node in dorsal view slightly broader than long. Disc of postpetiole smooth, not uniformly reticulate-punctate. Basigastral costulae much shorter than length of disc of postpetiole. Hairs on first gastral tergite stiff and blunt, most or all of them somewhat flattened and expanded toward the apex. Head, alitrunk and waist segments yellow, gaster a strongly contrasting dark brown. Legs the same colour as head and alitrunk, not strongly contrasting with them.

Paratype. TL 3.8, HL 1.12, HW 0.98, CI 88, ML 0.50, MI 45, SL 0.67, SI 68, PW 0.43, AL 1.06.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Papua New Guinea: 12 km. SW Telefomin, 7.vii.1980, 1600 m., 5.13°S, 141.35°E, ex rotten log, montane rainforest, #4702 (P. S. Ward). Paratype. 1 worker and 1 queen with same data as holotype.