Strumigenys stemonixys

Known from litter collections and rotten wood on the ground. Occurs in a range of wet forest types.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys szalayi-group. Resembling a larger, more attenuated version of Strumigenys szalayi, but with the differences noted below and in the key. Most specimens have no differentiated anterior face to the node but a poorly defined oblique face is developed in the specimens from near Vanimo (2 workers). These workers have the flagellate gastral pilosity of stemonixys and are retained as that species for the present.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Indonesia, New Guinea, Palau.

Nomenclature

 *  stemonixys. Strumigenys stemonixys Brown, 1971c: 81, figs. 2, 4 (w.) PALAU IS. See also: Bolton, 2000: 906.

Worker
Bolton (2000) - TL 3.9, HL 1.14, HW 0.75, CI 66, ML 0.62, MI 54, SL 0.80, SI 107, PW 0.38, AL 1.00. With head in profile the postocular concavity in the vetrolateral margin broad and conspicuous; in same view dorsal outline of head broadly concave from highest point of vertex to near occipital margin. Propodeum with a pair of long slender elevated spines, their length easily twice the distance separating their bases. Side of alitrunk reticulate-punctate, with a small un sculptured patch on katepisternum. Hairs on first gastral tergite sparse, those near apical margin long and flagellate, those near base may be flagellate but often are not; hairs on second tergite flagellate. These flagellate hairs contrast with the hairs on the postpetiole which are simple, stiff and relatively short. Petiole long and slender, node in profile usually without a differentiated anterior face; dorsal outline of the peduncle and node forming a single broad shallow curve (see notes below). Colour dull yellow to light brownish yellow, gaster glossy dark brown.

Type Material
Holotype worker, (B. P. Bishop Museum) a unique taken by means of Berlese funnel at 65 m altitude, E. Ngatpang. Babelthuap Island, Palau Group, western Carolines, 8 July, 1952, J. L. Gressitt.

Bolton (2000) - Holotype worker, PALAUIS: Babelthuap I., E Ngatpang, 56 m., 8.vii.1952 (J. L. Gressitt) [not seen].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65
 * Brown W. L., Jr. 1971. The Indo-Australian species of the ant genus Strumigenys: group of szalayi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Pp. 73-86 in: Asahina, S., et al. (eds.) Entomological essays to commemorate the retirement of Professor K. Yasumatsu. Tokyo: Hokuryukan Publishing Co., vi + 389 pp.
 * CSIRO Collection
 * Field Museum Collection, Chicago, Illinois (C. Moreau)
 * Janda M., G. D. Alpert, M. L. Borowiec, E. P. Economo, P. Klimes, E. Sarnat, and S. O. Shattuck. 2011. Cheklist of ants described and recorded from New Guinea and associated islands. Available on http://www.newguineants.org/. Accessed on 24th Feb. 2011.