Strumigenys charybdis

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys capitata-group. Closely related to Strumigenys tethys and Strumigenys themis, charybdis is distinguished from them by its well developed spongiform appendages on the waist segments and its broad propodeal lamella. In both tethys and them is the lateral spongiform lobe of the petiole is reduced, appearing as a thin or vestigial flange that is narrower than the posterior collar in dorsal view. The postpetiole disc in dorsal view is not thickly surrounded by spongiform tissue along the sides and around the anterior angles, and in profile the ventral spongiform lobe of the postpetiole is smaller than the exposed cuticular area of the disc. The contrasting states found in charybdis are as described above.

Further to these differences, in tethys the mesonotum has only a single pair of standing hairs, the side of the pronotum is obliquely costulate, and the postpetiole is extremely broad whereas in charybdis two pairs of mesonotal standing hairs are present, the pronotal sides are reticulate-punctate and the postpetiole is quite narrow. Finally, in themis the dorsal outline of the propodeum is markedly convex, whilst in charybdis the propodeum is more or less flat and slopes posteriorly.

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

Nomenclature

 *  charybdis. Pyramica charybdis Bolton, 2000: 396 (w.) INDONESIA (Sumatra). Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 117

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.0, HL 0.52, HW 0.44, CI 85, ML 0.11, MI 21, SL 0.24, SI 55, PW 0.27, AL 0.52. Pronotal humeral hair and apicoscrobal hair stout, remiform to weakly clavate apically. Eye with 4 ommatidia in the longest row. Dorsum of head with a row of 4 standing hairs close to the occipital margin, and with a pair of similar hairs close to the highest point of the vertex. Head and alitrunk reticulate-punctate everywhere except for the lower katepisternum which is smooth and shining. Mesonotal dorsum with two pairs of short, apically clavate standing hairs. Lamella of propodeal declivity relatively broad and weakly punctulate-spongiform, not merely a low cuticular carina. With petiole in profile the dorsum with two pairs of hairs and the height of the anterior face of the node about equal to the length of its dorsum (discounting the posterior collar). Spongiform appendages of waist segments large. With petiole in profile the lateral lobe an extensive and distinctly spongiform flap that extends forward almost to the level of the anterior face of the node. Ventral spongiform lobe of postpetiole in profile much larger than the exposed cuticular area of the disc, and very much larger than the lateral lobe. Petiole node in dorsal view reticulate-punctate, bounded on each side by the conspicuously projecting lateral spongiform lobes that run the length of the sides. Postpetiolar disc glassy smooth, in dorsal view completely surrounded by projecting spongiform tissue. Disc of postpetiole not very greatly broader than petiole node (widths 0.19 and 0.13 respectively).

Type Material
Holotype worker, Indonesia: North Sumatra, Brastagi, 6.vi.1984, (Rougemont).