Strumigenys gorgon

Collected in rainforest litter samples and a rotten log.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the dexis complex in the Strumigenys dexis-group. Within the dexis-complex, the species gorgon, Strumigenys peyrierasi and Strumigenys rabesoni form a close cluster. The three together differ from Strumigenys dexis in possessing simple labral trigger-hairs, where dexis has them replaced by a pair of fan-like thin cuticular lamellae. Strumigenys coveri separates from gorgon, peyrierasi and rabesoni by having the petiole node longer than broad, the pronotum only as broad as long and the eye somewhat larger, with 11-13 ommatidia in total. In gorgon, peyrierasi and rabesoni the petiole node and the pronotum are both broader than long in dorsal view, and the eye is somewhat smaller, with 7-10 ommatidia in total. S. gorgon is distinguished from peyrierasi and rabesoni by the presence in the former of broad spoon-shaped hairs laterally on the dorsal surfaces of the occipital lobes, absent in the latter. S. gorgon is distinguished from rabesoni by the densely crowded punctate sculpture of the vertex in rabesoni, which in gorgon is much fainter and more widely spaced. Finally, gorgon is distinguished from peyrierasi by the presence of a single pair of short straight standing hairs on the mesonotum in peyrierasi, absent in gorgon.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 *  gorgon. Strumigenys gorgon Fisher, in Bolton, 2000: 642 (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.4, HL 0.60, HW 0.52, CI 87, ML 0.15, MI 25, SL 0.28, SI 54, PW 0.34, AL 0.64. Characters of dexis-complex. With head in full-face view the dorsal surfaces of the occipital lobes with broad spoon-shaped hairs similar in shape and size to those projecting from the upper scrobe margins; these hairs occupy a longitudinal strip on each side from the apices of the upper scrobe margins to the apices of the occipital lobes, but absent from the vertex proper. Punctures on cephalic vertex shallow and poorly defined, not crowded together. Eye with 8 ommatidia in total. Punctures on pronotal dorsum shallow and faint, almost effaced, very widely scattered so that most of the dorsum is smooth. Pronotum in dorsal view distinctly broader than long. Petiole node in dorsal view (excluding spongiform tissue) broader than long. Disc of postpetiole smooth and shining. Basigastral costulae moderately long and sharply defined, extending backwards over one-quarter the length of the first gastral tergite.

Paratypes. TL 2.4-2.5, HL 0.60-0.64, HW 0.52-0.55, CI 86-89, ML 0.15-0.17, MI 25-27, SL 0.28-0. 30, SI 51-55, PW 0.34-0.36, AL 0.64-0.68 (4 measured). As holotype but eye with 8-10 ommatidia in total.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Madagascar: 6.9 km. NE Ambanizana, 15°34'S, 50°00'E, 825 m., 2.xii.1993, sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood) rainforest, #976 (41)-1 (B. L. Fisher).

Paratypes. 4 workers with same data as holotype but coded (37)-1, (44)-1, (48)-1.