Strumigenys bernardi

Relatively well collected for an Afrotropical Strumigenys, the dozens of collections of this species have been collected across a wide range of forest habitats. Most specimens have been obtained via litter sampling and pitfall traps.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the rogeri complex in the Strumigenys rogeri -group. Very color variable, ranging from clear straw-yellow to almost black.

Bolton (1983) - Among the Afrotropical Strumigenys in which the preocular notch is developed bernardi and Strumigenys vazerka form a close species-pair characterized by their long bowed mandibles, long scapes, lack of intercalary teeth in the mandibular apical forks, and by having the pre ocular notch continued as an impression on the ventral surface of the head. Most samples of bernardi are instantly distinguishable from vazerka as the former has only a single preapical tooth on the left mandibular blade whilst the latter has two. However, now and again a specimen of bernardi with a minute vestige of the left distal preapical tooth is found, but here bernardi is recognized by its reticulate-punctate propodeal dorsum, which in vazerka is smooth.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Angola, Cameroun, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Uganda.

Nomenclature

 *  bernardi. Strumigenys bernardi Brown, 1960c: 206 (w.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. See also: Bolton, 1983: 356k; Bolton, 2000: 601.

Worker
Bolton (1983) - TL 1.7-2.1, HL 0.52-0.58, HW 0.36-0.41, CI 67-72, ML 0·30-0.36, MI 55-65, SL 0.30-0.36, SI 82-92, PW 0.22-0.26, AL 0.44-0.54 (25 measured).

Mandibles long and slender, conspicuously bowed outwards in full-face view. Apical fork of both mandibles without intercalary denticles. Left mandible usually with only a single spiniform preapical tooth (the proximal) but extremely rarely a minute almost invisible distal pre apical denticle can be seen very close to the dorsal tooth of the apical fork. Right mandible with 2 pre apical teeth, the proximal much longer than the distal and the latter frequently concealed by the opposing upper fork tooth when the mandibles are closed. Upper scrobe margins close together immediately behind the frontal lobes, usually feebly sinuate close to the frontal lobes and then evenly divergent behind, not concave or impressed above the eyes and without a conspicuous bordering lamella or flange. Pre ocular notch strongly developed and deep, the anterior portion of the eye detached from the side of the head. Preocular notch continuing onto ventral surface of head as a transverse impression. Maximum diameter of eye equal to or greater than maximum width of scape. Antennal scapes straight and slender, the leading edge with a row of apically curved narrowly spatulate hairs. Cephalic ground-pilosity of inconspicuous narrowly spatulate hairs which are curved anteriorly. Laterally projecting curved spatulate to spoon-shaped hairs which border the upper scrobe margins distinctly larger than the ground-pilosity. Vertex of head with 6 standing hairs arranged in a row of 4 close to the occipital margin and a more anteriorly situated pair. Dorsum of head finely and shallowly reticulate-punctate everywhere. Pronotal humeri each with a long fine flagellate hair and the mesonotum with a single pair of stout standing hairs. Ground-pilosity on alitrunk minute and appressed. Metanotal groove represented by a transverse line on the dorsum, not or only vestigially impressed in profile. Posterior portion of mesonotum depressed and on same level as propodeum, the latter armed with a pair of triangular teeth subtended by narrow infradentallamellae. Pleurae of alitrunk smooth and shining or at most with faint peripheral punctulae. Sides of propodeum usually punctate, less commonly virtually unsculptured. Pronotal dorsum usually with fine longitudinal rugulae which diverge posteriorly and are superimposed on a punctate ground-sculpture, but one or the other component may be emphasised so that at one extreme the pronotum is punctate dorsally and at the other almost entirely rugulose. Mesonotum and propodeum reticulate-punctate dorsally. Petiole node punctate dorsally, the postpetiole smooth or weakly sculptured, often with feeble longitudinal costulae and sometimes with vestigial punctures. Petiole with a vestigial ventral appendage which at most is represented by a narrow carina, the node posteriorly with a slender transverse collar. Ventral spongiform lobe of postpetiole moderately developed, larger than the lateral lobe in profile. In dorsal view the postpetiole with a very narrow anterior and broader posterior spongiform strip. Base of first gastral tergite with a narrow lamellar strip from which the basigastral costulae arise. Petiole, postpetiole and gaster with strong hairs which are weakly clavate apically. Colour dull yellow.

Type Material
Holotype worker, ZAIRE: 10 miles (16 km) E. of Stanleyville (= Kisangani), iii.1948, no. 2225 (N. A. Weber) [examined]