Strumigenys insolita

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys silvestrii-group. This minute species is immediately identified by its unique pilosity. No other species known in the group has fine simple stubbly ground-pilosity on the head and promesonotum that is suberect to erect. Coupled with this the lack of propodeal teeth, flat first gastral tergite and lack of elongate hairs on the head and alitrunk render insolita easily recognisable.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Paraguay.

Nomenclature

 *  insolita. Strumigenys insolita Bolton, 2000: 554 (w.) PARAGUAY.

Worker
Holotype. TL 1.7, HL 0.40, HW 0.34, CI 85, ML 0.26, MI 65, SL 0.28, SI 82, PW 0.22, AL 0.42. Mandible with a spiniform preapical tooth and a minute denticle, the latter located just proximal of the midlength. Preapical tooth remote from apex separated from apicodorsal tooth by a distance greater than its length. Scape with an obtuse but marked subbasal bend, the hairs on the leading edge slender and the longest of them about as long as the maximum width of the scape. Hairs that fringe upper scrobe margins short, fine and simple, only very shallowly anteriorly curved. Apicoscrobal hair not strongly differentiated from other hairs on margin, only slightly longer. Cephalic dorsum with short stubbly ground-pilosity of fine simple hairs that are erect or suberect; without a longer specialised pair of hairs close to occipital margin. Pronotal humeral hair simple and fine, scarcely longer than the stubbly suberect to erect simple ground-pilosity of the promesonotum; mesonotum without a pair of elongate standing hairs. Pleurae and side of propodeum smooth. Propodeum with a very short lamella on declivity that is weakly angulate at top and bottom, but without propodeal teeth. Petiole in profile without spongiform tissue ventrally; node long and low, its dorsal length greater than the height of its anterior face. In dorsal view petiole node slightly broader than long, with large prominent lateral spongiform lobes. Disc of postpetiole flat, much broader than long, smooth medially but with faint sculpture toward the sides. Gaster in profile with dorsal outline of first tergite flat to very shallowly concave; outline of first stemite deeply convex. Pilosity of first gastral tergite elongate, fine and simple, curved to weakly flexuous but not flagellate. Basigastral costulae in dorsal view only slightly longer than disc of postpetiole.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Paraguay: Central, Asuncion, 4.x.1979 (P. Vaucher).

Paratype. I worker with same data as holotype.