Stictoponera scalpta

One of the few specimens of this species was found in a log on a sunny ridge of a montane rainforest.

Identification
Lattke (2004) - This species and Stictoponera helisa have fine striations on the body, but S. helisa is a larger species (HL > 1.0; WL > 2.2 mm), with mostly smooth scapes, and the anterior margin of its clypeal lamella converges to a median lobe, while the lamellar margin in S. scalpta is sinuate, not converging so directly. The petiolar node in S. helisa is not evenly convex when seen laterally but higher posterad than anterad, its subpetiolar process is shaped as an anteriorly projecting narrow lobe, and it has small but distinct propodeal denticles.

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

Castes
Queen and male are unknown.

Nomenclature

 * . Gnamptogenys scalpta Lattke, 2004: 149, fig. 35 (w.) BORNEO (East Malaysia: Sabah).
 * Type-material: holotype worker.
 * Type-locality: Malaysia: Sabah, Poring Hot Springs, 600 m., 10.v.1987, no. 19a (I. Löbl & D. Burckhardt).
 * Type-depository: BMNH.
 * Combination in Stictoponera: Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 12.
 * Status as species: Pfeiffer, et al. 2011: 35; Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 12.
 * Distribution: Malaysia (Sarawak).

Propodeal declivity mostly smooth with strigulae along lateral margins and two diverging, posteromedian crests, declivity with broad lamella surrounding its posterolateral margins, propodeal denticles absent. Petiolar node convex with anterior margin longer than posterior margin in lateral view; ventral process subquadrate, slightly more projecting anterad than posterad, with dorsum foveolate over transverse striae; postpetiolar dorsum with punctae over transversely striate ground sculpture anteriorly, becoming longitudinal posteriorly.

Worker
Metrics. Holotype: HL 1.35, HW 1.20, ML 0.74, SL 1.23, ED 0.20, WL 1.94 mm. CI 0.89, SI 1.03, MI 0.62, OI 0.17. Head with broadly convex lateral margins in frontal view, posterior margin concave, anterior margin of clypeal lamella sinuate, with median blunt point; frons longitudinally strigulose with abundant round to oval punctae; clypeus longitudinally strigulose with median shallow sulcus; scape longitudinally carinate; occipital lamella narrow, bluntly angular at both ends. Mesosoma mostly foveolate-striate in lateral view; mesosomal dorsum with round to oval foveolae on smooth to striate cuticle; pronotum with posteromedian striate area devoid of foveolae; promesonotal suture impressed as transverse line; mesonotum lacking foveolae medially, mostly smooth with weak curves to transverse striae; mesopleural suture scrobiculate; anterodorsal metapleuron smooth; propodeal dorsum densely foveolate, laterally with scalloped foveolae, propodeal declivity mostly smooth with strigulae along lateral margins and two diverging posteromedian crests, with broad lamella surrounding posterolateral propodeal margin, denticles absent.

Petiolar node dorsum transversely foveolate-striate, with anterior margin longer than posterior margin in lateral view, ventral petiolar process subquadrate, projecting slightly more anterad than posterad; postpetiolar dorsum with punctae in shallow elongate depressions that become deeper posterad, ground sculpture transversely striate along anterior half, becoming longitudinal on posterior half; posterior margin with narrow strigulose band; dorsum of abdominal segment 4 mostly smooth with scattered punctae, each puncture coinciding with small striate patch, mostly obliquely strigulate in lateral view, sternum strigulose. Fore coxa transversely striate in lateral view; fore tarsus opposite strigil with row of stout setae; metacoxal tooth relatively long and straight. Dorsum of thorax and abdominal segments 1-4 with scattered erect to subdecumbent hairs. Head, mesosoma, petiole, and gaster dark brown; mandibles, antennae, legs brown.

Type Material
Holotype worker. Malaysia, Sabah, Poring Hot Springs, 600m, 10-v-1987, I. Löbl & D. Burckhardt 19a. Deposited in.

Etymology
The species name is derived from the Latin, scalptus, meaning “scratch” or “engrave,” and alludes to the fine striations on the body of this species.

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.; 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