Strumigenys minutula

In Hong Kong, Tang et al. (2019) found this to be a rather uncommon species collected from tree plantation, secondary forest, and Feng Shui woods. The known elevation range of this species in Hong Kong is from 29 to 475 m. A colony including three dealate queens, 47 workers, 97 pupae, and 80 larvae was collected in a log at Tai Po Kau on May 18, 2016. The presence of multiple queens and the high number of pupae and larvae retrieved indicate that functional polygyny and large colony size (300 individuals) as previously reported occur within this species (Terayama et al. 2014). A single alate gyne was collected between June 26 and July 10 in a Malaise trap located within a mangrove area.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the godeffroyi complex in the Strumigenys godeffroyi-group. See notes under Strumigenys nanzanensis.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Taiwan. Palaearctic Region: Japan.

Biology
Chien and Lin (2015) analyzed the chemical constituents of the venom of five Taiwanese Strumigenys species: Strumigenys chuchihensis, Strumigenys formosensis, Strumigenys liukueiensis, Strumigenys minutula and Strumigenys solifontis for a chemotaxonomy study. The venom was collected from extruded stings and was thought likely to contain a mixture of poison (venom) and Dufour gland secretions. GC/MS profiles showed that three of the five species were clearly differentiated by the chemical composition of their sting secretions. Two remaining two species, S. chuchihensis and S. liukueiensis, showed chemical signatures that were not significantly different from one another.

Nomenclature

 *  minutula. Strumigenys minutula Terayama & Kubota, 1989: 782, figs. 13-17 (w.q.) TAIWAN. See also: Bolton, 2000: 795.

Worker
Bolton (2000) - TL 2.0, HL 0.52-0.54, HW 0.37-0.30, CI 69-74, ML 0.18-0.20, MI 35-38, SL 0.28-0.30, SI 74-77, PW 0.22-0.23, AL 0.54-0.56 (4 measured). Characters of godeffroyi-complex. Cephalic dorsum with pair of erect hairs closest to midline on occipital margin fine, basal portion of hair erect and apical third or more abruptly angled or hooked anteriorly, or looped. With head in full-face view the dorsolateral margin posterior to the flagellate apicoscrobal hair without 3-4 stiffly projecting hairs; either without such hairs at all or at most with a single stiff hair immediately posterior to the flagellate hair. When a single such hair occurs it contrasts strongly with the marginal hairs anterior to the flagellate hair, being more cylindrical (i.e. not spatulate), more elevated and less strongly curved anteriorly. Ground-pilosity on pronotal dorsum short and sparse, not forming a dense pelt. Dorsum of pronotum reticulate-punctate and with a pair of erect flagellate hairs in addition to the humeral pair. Pleurae and side of propodeum mostly to entirely smooth, any reticulate-punctate sculpture present is confined to periphery. Propodeal declivity with a broad and very conspicuous spongiform lamella, the propodeal teeth only weakly expressed (may be vestigial) and entirely buried in the lamella. Dorsal surface of propodeal tooth in profile surmounted by a convex crest or ridge of spongiform tissue. In dorsal view petiole node un sculptured; lateral margins of node converge anteriorly and terminate in an anteromedian blunt point so that shape of dorsum of node is roughly triangular; lateral spongiform lobes extend anteriorly to, or almost to, the apex of the anteromedian point. Disc of postpetiole unsculptured. Basigastral costulae conspicuous but not extending half the length of the tergite.

Type Material
Bolton (2000) - Holotype worker, paratype workers and queen, TAIWAN: Nantou Hsien, Puli, 4.viii.1981 (Terayama & Kubota); paratype workers and queens, TAIWAN: Nantou Hsien, Puli, 20.viii.1987 (H. Sakai); JAPAN: Okinawa-bonto I., Naba City, 13.ix.1981 (M. Terayama); Uenobara, 12.vi.1984 (H. Takamine); Nandai, 23.vi.1985 (H. Takamine); Hisadaka, 24.vi.1985 (H. Takamine); Okinawa Pref., Iriomote-jima I., 13.viii.1979 (M. Terayama); Kagosbima Pref., Tokunosbima I., 29.vii.1985 (M. Terayama) [not seen].