Strumigenys sarissa

Identification
Bolton (1983) - In the Afrotropical region the characteristic apical and pre apical dentition where an intercalary tooth is present in the left apical fork but not in the right, and the left blade has one pre apical tooth but the right blade has two, is restricted to the two species sarissa and Strumigenys londianensis. Details for separating them are as follows:

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda. Palaearctic Region: Ethiopia.

Nomenclature

 *  sarissa. Strumigenys sarissa Bolton, 1983: 390, fig. 50 (w.q.) BURUNDI. See also: Bolton, 2000: 605.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.9, HL 0.72, HW 0.52, CI 72, ML 0.38, MI 53, SL 0.46, SI 88, PW 0.33, AL 0.74.

Apical fork of each mandible of 2 spiniform teeth, the fork of the left mandible with an intercalary small tooth between the upper and lower spiniform teeth; right apical fork without an intercalary tooth. Blade of left mandible with a single pre apical tooth, the proximal; right mandibular blade with 2 pre apical teeth, a spiniform proximal (which is equal in size to that on the left blade) and a much smaller distal pre apical tooth which is situated very close to the apical fork and is hidden from view by the right dorsal fork tooth when the mandibles are closed. Upper scrobe margins irregular in full-face view, not fringed by a lamina throughout their length. Behind the convex frontal lobes the upper scrobe margins are sharply concave and have a pinched-in appearance. Posterior to this the upper scrobe margins expand and diverge, are shallowly concave above the eyes so that the latter are clearly visible, and diverge more strongly behind this. Preocular notch deep and strongly developed, the anterior portion of the eye detached from the side of the head. Preocular notch continued onto ventral surface of head as a shallow but broad impression. Antennal scapes elongate and narrow, subcylindrical and with all the hairs on the leading edges directed apically. Ground-pilosity of head everywhere of fairly dense narrowly spatulate hairs which are curved anteriorly, the hairs fringing the upper scrobe margins not noticeably larger than those elsewhere on the vertex. In profile the vertex lacking larger prominent hairs which project above the ground-pilosity. Entire cephalic dorsum finely punctate. Pronotal humeri each with a long fine flagellate hair and the curved anterior margin of the pronotum between the flagellate hairs with a pair of shorter but stouter erect simple curved hairs. Mesonotum with a pair of strong standing hairs, the dorsal alitrunk otherwise without standing pilosity except that in a few paratypes a second pair of simple erect hairs may occur on the pronotum. Ground-pilosity of dorsal alitrunk of sparse curved narrow hairs which are closely applied to the surface. In profile the pronotum and anterior mesonotum high and convex, the posterior mesonotum and propodeum depressed. Metanotal groove not impressed. Propodeum with a pair of triangular teeth which are subtended by narrow infradental lamellae. Sides of alitrunk feebly punctate peripherally, the main area of the pleurae smooth. Dorsal alitrunk punctate everywhere. Dorsum of petiole punctate, the postpetiole showing vestigial punctate sculpture. Petiole in profile without a ventral spongiform appendage, with a narrow posterior collar on the node. Postpetiole with a moderate ventral spongiform lobe and a smaller lateral lobe. In dorsal view the postpetiole with a narrow posterior spongiform strip. Base of first gastral tergite with a narrow transverse strip, with numerous fine basal costulae. Petiole, postpetiole and gaster dorsally with strong standing pilosity which is clavate apically. Colour light brown.

Paratypes. TL 2.9-3.2, HL 0.72-0.82, HW 0.50-0.60, CI 68-75, ML 0.38-0.44, MI 53-55, SL 0.46-0.52, SI 83-92, PW 0·30-0.38, AL 0.74-0.80 (15 measured).

As holotype but some with a second pair of simple hairs on the pronotum which are sited beside the flagellate hairs. Postpetiolar sculpture may be intense so that the disc is as strongly punctate as the petiole, and the basi gastral costulae may be more strongly defined. The petiole ventrally usually lacks a spongiform appendage but in some a very narrow strip may be present.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Burundi: Bujumbura, no. 82, 1977 (A. Dejean). Paratypes. Burundi: 1 worker with same data as holotype; 2 workers with same data but no. 86. Rwanda: 17 workers and 1 female, Kayove, 2100 m, 15.v.1973 (P. Werner); 4 workers with same data but 25.v.1973; 2 workers with same data but 23.iv.1973; 2 workers, Kamiranzovu, 1900 m, i.1976 (P. Werner) (BMNH; ; ; ).