Strumigenys kempfi

Identification
Bolton (2000) - Perhaps the most spectacular species of Pyramica in the region, and certainly one of the oddest in the world, kempfi does not have any obvious close relatives. At first glance the gross structure of the mandibles and clypeus suggests a relationship with the capitata-group, but these features are almost certainly plesiomorphic. The unique specialisations of kempfi, and there are so many of them, render the species immediately recognisable, but make an assessment of its relationships extremely difficult. On the body the most obvious features in the recognition of this species are the massively hypertrophied spongiform lobes of the waist segments, and the presence of large amounts of spongiform tissue on the alitrunk. With only one species currently in the group it should be born in mind that close species, if discovered, may not share this character as it may be an autapomorphy of kempfi.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia.

Nomenclature

 *  kempfi. Smithistruma kempfi Taylor & Brown, 1978: 35, figs. 1-6 (w.q.) BORNEO. Combination in Pyramica: Bolton, 1999: 1673; in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 122. See also: Bolton, 2000: 425.

Worker
Bolton (2000) - TL 1.9-2.1, HL 0.47-0.54, HW 0.37-0.40, CI 75-79, ML 0.09-0.11, MI 18-23, SL 0.30-0.31, SI 75-81, AL 0.56-0.60 (4 measured).

Type Material
Bolton (2000) - Holotype worker, paratype workers and queens, MALAYSIA: Sarawak, Semengoh Forest Reserve, ca 18 km. SW Kuching, 30.vi.1968, rain forest litter berlesate (R. W. Taylor); paratype worker, same data but 2-3.vii.1968 (R. W. Taylor) [examined].