Strumigenys hemichlaena

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys szalayi-group. Specimens of hemichlaena are like those of populations of Strumigenys szalayi in which the gaster is distinctly darker than the head and alitrunk, except for the fact that in hemichlaena the pronotum and anterior mesonotum are also darkly coloured (alitrunk is unicoloured in szalayi). The validity of this character is weakened by the presence in LACM of two workers collected by Roy Snelling at Lakekamu Basin, Papua New Guinea, in which the pronotum and anterior mesonotum are only very slightly darker than the remainder of the alitrunk. Whether these represent intermediates or are teneral forms of hemichlaena remains undecided. Nevertheless, the suspicion arises that hemichlaena may merely be another colour-morph of szalayi (see note under Strumigenys tigris); only the acquisition of more material can resolve the problem.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Indonesia, New Guinea.

Nomenclature

 *  hemichlaena. Strumigenys hemichlaena Brown, 1971c: 78 (w.) NEW GUINEA. See also: Bolton, 2000: 904.

Worker
Bolton (2000) - TL 3.2-3.5, HL 0.76-0.90, HW 0.52-0.64, CI 68-71, ML 0.40-0.46, MI 48-53, SL 0.50-0.58, SI 91-97, PW 0.32-0.36, AL 0.86-0.94 (4 measured). As szalayi but with different colour pattern. Head yellow to yellowish brown; pronotum and anterior mesonotum black or blackish brown; posterior mesonotum, propodeum and waist segments same shade as head; gaster glossy dark brown.

Type Material
Bolton (2000) - Holotype worker, paratype workers and queen, INDONESIA: Irian Jaya, Baliem River, 1600 m., 14.xii.1938, in rotten branch (L. J. Toxopeus) (BZB,, , ) [examined].