Strumigenys quinquedentata

In sandy soils, several entrance holes may be found close together with a moderate amount of excavated soil surrounding each of them. The emerging ants move slowly and deliberately (Heterick 2009).

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the rofocala complex in the Strumigenys godeffroyi-group. This is one of the very few strumigenyiforms to occur in Western Australia and its affinities are obscure. Brown (1988c) says that there may be long slender apicoscrobal and pronotal humeral hairs present. I have not been able to detect apicoscrobal hairs in any of the material examined, whereas the fine flagellate humeral hairs are always conspicuous.

Within the godeffroyi-group as represented in Australia quinquedentata is isolated by its combination of presence of a mandibular lamella, presence of finely flagellate long hairs at the pronotal humeri, absence of numerous stiffly erect hairs on promesonotum, absence of long fine erect hairs on basitarsi; the mandible has 2 intercalary denticles.

Dorsal sculpture on the head and body is less intense in the Margaret River specimens than elsewhere, but given the paucity of material this is considered here as within the normal variation of this species.

Distribution
Heterick (2009) - Common in the SW corner of WA and occasionally found in gardens in suburban Perth.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  quinquedentata. Strumigenys quinquedentata Crawley, 1923b: 177 (w.) AUSTRALIA. See also: Bolton, 2000: 969.

Worker
Bolton (2000) - TL 2.7-2.8, HL 0.68-0.74, HW 0.49-0.54, CI 70-76, ML 0.30-0.34, MI 43-47, SL 0.40-0.42, SI 76-84, PW 0.26-0.30, AL 0.72-0.80 (10 measured).

With characters of rojocala-complex. Inner margin of mandible with a narrow cuticular lamella that extends from the preapical tooth to the base. Preapical tooth slightly shorter than maximum width of mandible (discounting the lamella). Dorsolateral margin of head with an uninterrupted row of anteriorly curved narrowly spatulate ground-pilosity, without an apicoscrobal hair, without freely laterally projecting long hairs anywhere on the margin. Cephalic dorsum finely reticulate-punctate with overlying longitudinal rugulae, the latter most conspicuous laterodorsally. Curved narrowly spatulate ground-pilosity present on cephalic dorsum but without erect hairs of any form. Pronotal humeral hair long and flagellate; pronotal dorsum without standing hairs although linear-spatulate curved ground-pilosity is conspicuous. Mesonotal dorsum with a single pair of standing hairs (often broken or abraded). Dorsal alitrunk finely reticulate-punctate, may be almost effaced on pronotum where a number of fine longitudinal rugulae are present; in some workers these rugulae extend onto mesonotum. Propodeal dorsum reticulate-punctate. Katepisternum, metapleuron and side of propodeum mostly smooth, reticulate-punctate sculpture present only around periphery. Disc of postpetiole small and compact, smooth and shining. Hairs on first gastral tergite very long and slender, curved filiform to flagellate, or even narrowly looped apically.

Type Material
Bolton (2000) - Syntype workers, AUSTRALIA: West Australia, Manjimup, no. 467 (Clark) [not seen; type-material not in, presumed lost].