Strumigenys veddha

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Baroni Urbani & De Andrade (2007) - A member of the prosopis complex in the Strumigenys lyroessa-group. Differing from the six species of this complex by the CI = 73.3 instead of .2. 77, by the cephalic dorsum without standing hairs and by the much more superficial sculpture on the head and mesosoma, and, in particular, from the species Strumigenys loricata, Strumigenys panopla, Strumigenys prosopis and Strumigenys strenosa by the petiole with a pair of standing hairs, and from Strumigenys anchiplex and Strumigenys propinqua by the smaller values of SI < 57 instead of .2. 60, by the lack of pronotal humeral hairs and by the first gastral tergite with basal and apical pairs of erect hairs only.

Among the 6 species of the prosopis-complex S. veddha  resembles especially Strumigenys loricata. veddha and loricata share the cephalic dorsum finely reticulate-punctuate and the promesonotum with sculpture similar to the one on the head but less impressed. But veddha differs from loricata mainly by the longer head (CI = 73.3 instead of ≥ 82) and by the first gastral tergite with two pairs of stiff hairs, one near to the base and another near to the apex (loricata has no standing hairs on the first tergite). Among the six species of the prosopis-complex only veddha and panopla have the first gastral tergite with one pair of stiff hairs near the base and another pair near the apex.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Sri Lanka.

Nomenclature

 *  veddha. Strumigenys veddha De Andrade, in Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 142, fig. 49 (w.) SRI LANKA.

Worker
TL 2.12; HL 0.58; HW 0.425; SL 0.24; ML 0.17; EL 0.06; WL 0.56; CI 73.3; SI 56.5; MI 29.3.

Head strongly converging anteriorly, with round vertexal corners and moderately flattened dorsoventrally. Frontal lobes weakly expanded and convex. Antennal fossae ventrally with a developed carina visible in full-face view, straight, covering the lower margin of the scrobes and ending in front of the eyes. Eyes small, with 5 ommatidia in the longest row, placed over the ventral margin of the antennal scrobes, and not visible in dorsal view. Scrobe distinct in profile, with marked upper and lower margins only. Lateral clypeal margin gently converging anteriorly to a straight margin. Scapes less than half of the head length, slightly thicker on the posterior half and surpassing the eyes posteriorly. Antennae with six segments. Apical funicular joint longer than the rest of the funiculus. Mandibles short, broad proximally and tapered distally; their outer margin convex basally. Apical fork of the mandible with two spiniform teeth, the apicodorsal one larger; space between the two apical spiniform teeth bearing one intercalary denticle. Preapical dentition consisting of 1 spiniform tooth.

Mesosoma in profile slightly flat and gently sloping posteriorly. Propodeal teeth subtended by a broad lamella.

Petiole with a long neck and round node. Ventral surface of the petiole with a broad spongiform lamina. Petiolar node with posterior sides and posterior margin surrounded by spongiform processes. Postpetiole gently convex in profile. Anterior, lateral and posterior faces of the postpetiole surrounded by spongiform processes broader posteriorly. Ventral surface of the postpetiole with large and dense spongiform process.

Gaster oval and with a few, short costulae. Base of the first gastral tergite and sternite with spongiform pad larger on the tergite.

Sculpture. Head and anterior half of propleurae finely reticulatepunctuate and superficially shining. Mesosomal dorsum and petiolar node largely smooth and shining, with very sparse, faint, minute reticulation-punctuation. Posterior half of the propleurae and remaining pleurae smooth. Postpetiole and gaster smooth and shining.

Pilosity. Head dorsum with appressed, thin, short hairs only. Upper scrobes margin and leading edge of scape with similar but thicker and slightly longer hairs than on the head dorsum. Apicoscrobal hair missing. Mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole and gaster with hairs similar to those on the head dorsum but much sparser. Mesosoma and postpetiole without erect hairs. Petiole with a pair of stiff standing hairs. First gastral tergite with two pairs of erect stiff hairs, one pair near the base, the other near the apex.

Colour. Light yellowish.

Type Material
Holotype worker (unique) from Sri Lanka labelled: Ceylan North central, Alut Oya, 3.11.[19]70, Mussard, Besuchet & Lobl.

Etymology
From the Veddhas, the name of one of the Sri Lanka's indigenous inhabitants. It is used as a noun in apposition.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Baroni Urbani C., and M. L. De Andrade. 2007. The ant tribe Dacetini: limits and constituent genera, with descriptions of new species (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). . Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale "Giacomo Doria" 99: 1-191.