Strumigenys chernovi

Sarnat and Economo (2012) report this species is widespread in Fiji and is known from most of the major islands with the exceptions of Kadavu and Taveuni.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the smythiesii complex in the Strumigenys godeffroyi-group. This species, apparently restricted to the Fiji Islands, is characterised by having two projecting hairs on the upper scrobe margin, flagellate pronotal humeral hair, densely sculptured promesonotum that contrasts with the glassy smooth propodeal dorsum, densely sculptured postpetiole disc with large membranous ventral lobe, and very long basigastral costulae. See also notes under Strumigenys lichiaensis.

Sarnat and Economo (2012) - Part of the smythiesii complex, which also includes the Fijian species Strumigenys ekasura, Strumigenys jepsoni, Strumigenys panaulax and Strumigenys scelesta. All of these species have short scapes (SI 68–83), and an entirely sculptured postpetiolar disc. Strumigenys panaulax can be separated by its entirely sulcate first gastral tergite. Strumigenys ekasura is separated by the presence of only a single apicoscrobal hair and the lack of a lamella on the propodeal declivity. Strumigenys chernovi is separated from S. ekasura by the two freely laterally projecting fine hairs on each upper scrobe margin, one at the eye level and one apicoscrobal, and the broad propodeal lamella with a shallowly convex posterior margin. Strumigenys frivola might belong to this complex, as well, but can be separated from the other species by its lack of erect flagellate hairs on the dorsal surface of the hind basitarsus. Strumigenys jepsoni is unique among the Fijian species of smythiesii complex in that the pronotal humeral hairs are stiff and simple rather than flagellate. The Pacific tramp species, Strumigenys godeffroyi, is apparently a more distant relative to these other species in the group, and it can be separated by the many flagellate hairs present on all dorsal surfaces, including the gaster.

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

Nomenclature

 *  chernovi. Strumigenys chernovi Dlussky, 1993: 57, figs. 2, 3 (w.q.) FIJI IS. See also: Bolton, 2000: 805.

Worker
Bolton (2000) - TL 2.0-2.4, HL 0.52-0.64, HW 0.38-0.46, CI 70-74, ML 0.22-0.28, MI 42-44, SL 0.28-0.36, SI 73-78, PW 0.23-0.28, AL 0.52-0.59 (10 measured).

Characters of smythiesii-complex. Dorsolateral margin of head with 2 freely laterally projecting fine simple hairs, one at level of eye, the other apicoscrobal. Cephalic dorsum reticulate-punctate, with moderately dense short simple ground-pilosity and 1-2 pairs of short fine standing hairs at the occipital margin; these hairs may be difficult to distinguish from the ground-pilosity and appear to be easily lost. Pronotal humeral hair long, fine and flagellate. Promesonotal dorsum with short curved ground-pilosity only, apparently with 0-1 pairs of fine standing hairs on pronotum and 1-2 pairs on mesonotum. Mesopleuron, metapleuron and side of propodeum smooth and highly polished. Promesonotum dorsally reticulate-punctate, the pronotum also with some feeble longitudinal rugulae anteriorly. Propodeal dorsum glassy smooth and contrasting strongly with the promesonotum. Propodeal tooth short, slender and acute, subtended b y a lamella whose posterior (free) margin is shallowly convex; arc of posterior margin of lamella thickened with respect to the part of the lamella that is closer to the margin of the declivity. Dorsal surface of hind femur with 2 erect fine simple hairs; ventral surface with 2-3 similar hairs. A long erect fine hair also present on dorsal (outer) surface of hind tibia; similar pilosity is repeated on other legs. With petiole in profile the dorsum of the node longer than its anterior face; lateral spongiform lobe small, restricted to posterior half of node. Dorsum of petiole node reticulate-punctate; disc of postpetiole finely and densely longitudinally costulate, spaces between costulae finely punctulate-shagreenate. Ventral lobe of postpetiole very large, membranous rather than spongiform, forming an extensive blister-like translucent canopy that envelopes the base of the first gastral sternite. First gastral tergite with simple fine hairs and long ground-pilosity. Basigastral costulae dense, long and fine, extending almost half the length of the tergite and distinctly longer than the postpetiole disc.

Type Material
Bolton (2000) - Holotype worker, paratype workers and queen: FIJI IS: Viti Levu, Suvy, ii.1977 (Y. I. Chernov) [not seen].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65
 * Dlussky G.M. 1994. Zoogeography of southwestern Oceania. Zhivotnoe naselenie ostrovov Iugo-Zapadnoi Okeanii ekologo-geograficheskie issledovanii 48-93.
 * Sarnat Eli M. 2009. The Ants [Hymenoptera: Formicdiae] of Fiji: Systematics, Biogeography and Conservation of an Island Arc Fauna. 80-252
 * Ward, Darren F. and James K. Wetterer. 2006. Checklist of the Ants of Fiji. Fiji Arthropods III 85: 23-47.
 * Ward, Darren and Beggs, Jacqueline. 2007. Coexistence, habitat patterns and the assembly of ant communities in the Yasawa islands, Fiji. Ant Oecologica. 32:215-223.