Stictoponera ortostoma

Nothing is known about the biology of this species.

Identification
Lattke (2004) - The elongate habitus of this species, especially the rectangular head shape, is reminiscent of similar morphologies seen in the laevior group. The presence of propodeal teeth in G. ortostoma precludes its inclusion in the laevior group, which lacks propodeal armature.

Distribution
Known from Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore. Oriental Region: Thailand.

Castes
Males are unknown.

Nomenclature

 *  ortostoma. Gnamptogenys ortostoma Lattke, 2004: 139, fig. 31 (w.q.) SINGAPORE.

Head subrectangular in frontal view, with anterior margin of clypeal lamella relatively straight to slightly concave, laterally angular; mandibular dorsum mostly smooth with piligerous punctae. Lateral pronotal face densely foveolate, anteroventral corner forming acute angle; humeral angle lamellate.

Worker
Metrics. [Holotype] Paratype (n = 1): HL [0.94] 0.98, HW [0.70] 0.74, ML [0.42] 0.38, SL [0.76] 0.83, ED [0.18] 0.20, WL [1.24] 1.23 mm. CI [0.78] 0.76, SI [1.09] 0.97, MI [0.60] 0.51, OI [0.26] 0.24. Head subrectangular in frontal view, lateral margins straight to broadly convex, posterior margin broadly concave, anterior margin of clypeal lamella straight to slightly concave, laterally angular; frons densely punctate, almost areolate, ridges between depressions rounded, not sharp; fine median longitudinal sulcus extends from posterior clypeal margin to eye height; clypeus smooth with round punctures, lamella rugulose-scrobiculate; scape mostly smooth with scattered punctulae; mandibular dorsum mostly smooth with piligerous punctae, punctae deeper and more elongate basally; occipital lobe well developed, lamella narrow, angular at ends.

Lateral pronotal face densely foveolate, anteroventral corner forming acute angle; humeral angle well developed, lamellate; anepisterum mostly smooth with scattered punctae; metapleuron mostly smooth; mesosomal dorsum densely foveolate, promesonotal suture impressed as brief transverse line, laterally obliterated; propodeal declivity mostly smooth, bordered by carina contiguous with propodeal denticles. Petiolar node evenly convex in lateral view, ventral process forming anteriorly projecting lobe, dorsum smooth with foveolae; postpetiolar dorsum mostly smooth with scattered punctae, punctae deeper and more abundant anterad than posterad, laterally with deeper and more punctae than dorsally; sternum mostly smooth with scattered punctae; dorsum of abdominal segment 4 mostly smooth with scattered punctulae. Fore coxa smooth in lateral view; fore tarsus opposite strigil with single stout seta; metacoxal tooth slender, triangular, relatively straight. Dorsum of thorax and abdominal segments 1-4 with scattered erect to subdecumbent hairs. Head, mesosoma, petiole, and gaster dark brown to black; mandibles, antennae, legs ferruginous.

Queen
Metrics (n = 1): HL 0.94, HW 0.73, ML 0.44, SL 0.74, ED 0.23, WL 1.34 mm. CI 0.78, SI 1.01, MI 0.60, OI 0.21. Pronotum areolate, with almost denticle-like anteroventral corner in lateral view; mesonotum mostly longitudinally rugulosepunctate; mesopleuron mostly smooth with scattered foveolae; dorsal propodeal face areolate. Metacoxal tooth stout, arched.

Type Material
Holotype worker. Singapore, Bukit Timah, 17-iii-1967, D.H. Murphy. Deposited in. Paratype. One queen on same pin as holotype in ANIC.

Etymology
The species name is derived form a conjugation of the Greek words for “straight,” orthos, and “mouth,” stoma (n.).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Lattke J. E. 2004. A taxonomic revision and phylogenetic analysis of the ant genus Gnamptogenys Roger in Southeast Asia and Australasia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae). University of California Publications in Entomology 122: 1-266.
 * Pfeiffer M., and D. Mezger. 2012. Biodiversity Assessment in Incomplete Inventories: Leaf Litter Ant Communities in Several Types of Bornean Rain Forest. PLoS ONE 7(7): e40729. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0040865
 * Pfeiffer M.; Mezger, D.; Hosoishi, S.; Bakhtiar, E. Y.; Kohout, R. J. 2011. The Formicidae of Borneo (Insecta: Hymenoptera): a preliminary species list. Asian Myrmecology 4:9-58