Strumigenys scelesta

Known from few collections, this Fijian endemic has been found in forest habitat.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the smythiesii complex in the Strumigenys godeffroyi-group. Known only from the poorly preserved holotype. The combination of short mandibles, outline shape of dorsal alitrunk, distribution of pilosity and apparent lack of long hairs on head and alitrunk, isolate this Fijian endemic.

The possibility must be born in mind that the apparent lack of specialised projecting hairs on the dorsolateral margin of the head, and lack of standing hairs on the alitrunk, may be the result of abrasion. What is quite certain is that Mann's (1922) comment “fine short erect hairs moderately abundant on body” is either incorrect or refers only to the gaster. He also describes the dorsal alitrunk as densely punctate, which is not so.

Pilosity of the legs, not mentioned above, is equivocal. Most of the legs are in poor condition and not well displayed, but the left middle tibia and right hind tibia each have a fine flagellate hair on the dorsal (outer) surface. The presence of a flagellate hair on the hind basitarsus cannot be confirmed because of the condition of the specimen, but considering the morphology of the species and its relatives it seems most likely that one should be present, and Strumigenys scelesta is so treated in the key to species.

Sarnat and Economo (2012) - Strumigenys scelesta is known only from the single holotype which is in rather poor condition. It is therefore difficult to comment on the specialized hairs, which could either be naturally absent or worn off by damage. The recent survey recovered several specimens that bear close resemblance to S. scelesta. They are considered here, with some reservation, to belong to that species.

The shape and size of the recently collected specimens match the holotype precisely. In addition to the short curved mandibles, the head has the distinctive shape of S. scelesta in full face view, with linear lateral margins and a very shallowly concave posterior margin. The eyes, however, appear to be several facets larger than those of the holotype, and the color has more red than yellow. Whereas the holotype has distinctive short curved hairs restricted mainly to the head and mesosoma, the recently collected specimens have the distinctive hairs evenly distributed across all dorsal surfaces, including the gaster. All the specimens have the short curved hairs on the legs, and they all appear to lack apicoscrobal hairs and humeral hairs. As Bolton predicted, the fresh specimens have basitarsal hairs present, as well, which have apparently rubbed off from the holotype. The species is clearly part of the smythiesii group, however, which is discussed in more detail under the identification notes for Strumigenys chernovi.

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

Nomenclature

 *  scelesta. Strumigenys scelestus Mann, 1921: 463, fig. 22 (w.) FIJI IS. See also: Bolton, 2000: 812.

Worker
Bolton (2000) - TL 2.3, HL 0.57, HW 0.42, CI 74, ML 0.21, MI 37, SL 0.32, SI 76, PW 0.25, AL 0.60. Characters of smythiesii-complex. Mandible in full-face view quite short (MI 37), broadest basally and tapering distally. Anterior clypeal margin transverse, straight. With head in full-face view occipital margin only shallowly concave; hairs on dorsolateral margin of head dense and uniform, all short simple and anteriorly curved; no differentiated apicoscrobal hair. Cephalic dorsum finely reticulate-punctate. Head in profile with eye small (3-4 ommatidia in total); cephalic dorsum with only a single pair of standing hairs, short and straddling midline at occipital margin; dorsum otherwise with closely applied fine dense ground-pilosity only. Dorsal alitrunk with short curved ground pilosity only, without any standing hairs; a fine hair present at pronotal humerus that is flattened down and pressed into the ground-pilosity (probably displaced). With alitrunk in profile its dorsal outline an even shallow convex curve, without trace of metanotal groove; posterior mesonotum plus propodeum not depressed behind convex pronotum plus anterior mesonotum as is usual in this group. Side of pronotum smooth except for anterior margin; pleurae and side of propodeum smooth and highly polished. Dorsum of pronotum and propodeum almost smooth, sculpture nearly to entirely effaced; mesonotum more obviously but still only weakly sculptured. Propodeal tooth acute and elevated, subtended by a lamella that is confluent with the basal margin of the tooth for most of its length. Posterior (free) outline of lamella concave immediately below the tooth but below the level of the propodeal spiracle markedly convex. With petiole in profile the lateral spongiform lobe small, restricted to posterior margin of node. Petiole node in dorsal view broader than long. Disc of postpetiole smooth. First gastral tergite with a few simple fine hairs, 1-2 erect and the remainder flattened down (apparently damaged, probably all hairs should be erect); no stiff or spatulate hairs present.

Type Material
Bolton (2000) - Holotype worker, FIJI IS: Taveuni (W.M. Mann) [examined].