Strumigenys cingatrix

Identification
Bolton (2000) - Only three species of the Austral signeae-complex combine the presence 3 pairs of stiffly erect hairs on the mesonotum with the presence of stiff erect short hairs on the first gastral tergite: Strumigenys perplexa, cingatrix and Strumigenys deuteras. These species are best separated by the characters given in the key. Of these characters the intercalary dentition appears to be constant. Obviously, it has been impossible to check in all previously mounted material, but in the proportion where it is visible it is consistent. It should be stressed that the denticles that flank the small intercalary tooth in cingatrix and deuteras are minute, and may be difficult to see without appropriate lighting and orientation; there are no denticles in perplexa, only the small tooth.

Sculpture of the postpetiole disc is usually also unambiguous, but there are a few individuals in cingatrix and perplexa where the decision “mostly sculptured versus mostly smooth” may be difficult as both species show some variation.

The character of the pilosity on the leading edge of the scape is good, but requires careful examination. It is best observed with the scape extended as usual and viewed from above and slightly behind (oblique posterodorsal view). In this view both the primary and secondary rows of hairs can be seen to best advantage and their shapes and lengths compared.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  cingatrix. Strumigenys cingatrix Bolton, 2000: 958, fig. 541 (w.) AUSTRALIA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.4, HL 0.64, HW 0.45, CI 70, ML 0.30, MI 47, SL 0.36, SI 80, PW 0.27, AL 0.65. With characters of signeae-complex. Apical fork of right mandible with a small intercalary tooth that is flanked above and below by a minute denticle. Apicoscrobal hair short, stiff and simple, shallowly curved. Reticulate-punctate sculpture of cephalic dorsum very closely packed and with a granulate appearance. Occipital margin with 4-6 short erect hairs present. Main row of curved projecting hairs on leading edge of scape simple to extremely narrowly spatulate; secondary hairs on leading edge only fractionally more slender and fractionally shorter, not easily distinguished from components of main row. Pronotal humeral hair stiff and simple, straight to shallowly curved; pronotal dorsum with 1-2 pairs of stiffly erect simple hairs and mesonotum with 3 pairs of similar hairs. Entire dorsal alitrunk finely and densely reticulate-punctate. Side of pronotum entirely reticulate-punctate. Katepisternum, metapleuron and side of propodeum entirely evenly reticulate-punctate, without unsculptured patches. Lamella on declivity of propodeum very narrow, hardly more than a carina, closely paralleling the shape of the margin of the declivity. Postpetiole disc finely superficially sculptured, sculpture faint and almost effaced in places. Hairs on first gastral tergite short and straight, simple and stiffly erect, apically blunt. Basigastral costulae longer than disc of postpetiole.

Paratypes. TL 2.4-2.5, HL 0.64-0.65, HW 0.45-0.46, CI 70-71, ML 0.30-0.31, MI 47-48, SL 0.36-0.38, SI 80-83, PW 0.26-0.27, AL 0.65-0.66 (2 measured).

Dimensions of non-paratypic workers. TL 2.2-2.5, HL 0.57-0.66, HW 0.42-0.45, CI 68-74, ML 0.24-0.31, MI 42-48, SL 0.31-0.38, SI 74-84, PW 0.25-0.27, AL 0.55-0.65 (6 measured).

Type Material
Holotype worker, Australia: Queensland, NQ., 6 km W Clump Point, 9.vii.1971, R. W. Taylor Accession 71.1170, rainforest (R. W. Taylor & J. Feehan). Paratypes. 1 worker with same data as holotype; 1 worker Queensland, 20 km. S of Ravenshoe, 800 m., 3.vii.1971, Berlesate ANIC 358, 17.49 X 145.32, rainforest (Taylor & Feehan) (ANIC, ).