Strumigenys babelina

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the ebbae complex in the Strumigenys koningsbergeri-group. Within the ebbae-complex this relatively large species falls into the same size range as only Strumigenys baladria, Strumigenys incomposita and Strumigenys ulteria (HL 0.75-0.80, HW 0.60-0.67). The structure of its mandible and details of its preapical dentition separates babelina from all of these; see respective descriptions. In addition, babelina lacks the huge femoral and tibial gland bullae characteristic of baladria, does not have the petiole node dorsum smooth as in ulteria, and lacks the longitudinal finely rugulose cephalic sculpture that is developed in incomposita; the last species also has denser pilosity than the other three.

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

Nomenclature

 *  babelina. Strumigenys babelina Bolton, 2000: 839 (w.) INDONESIA (Sumatra).

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.8, HL 0.80, HW 0.64, CI 80, ML 0.38, MI 48, SL 0.46, SI 72, PW 0.34, AL 0.74. With characters of ebbae-complex. Preapical tooth short conical, widely separated from apicodorsal tooth and weakly curved toward the mandibular apex; length of preapical tooth distinctly less than half width of mandible at point where it arises. Inner margin of mandible very shallowly convex from preapical tooth to near base, where it is shallowly concave; inner margin sharp-edged and carina-like but without a prominent translucent lamella. Outer margin of mandible more or less straight from base to preapical tooth. Preocular concavity present in ventrolateral margin of head, broad and shallow. Upper scrobe margins evenly divergent from frontal lobes posteriorly, the eye entirely invisible in full-face view but only just so. Dorsum of head in profile with short erect hairs along occipital margin, 1-2 on dorsum of occipital lobe and a single pair at highest point of vertex; without erect hairs anterior to this. Pronotum with a single pair of short standing hairs, close to anterodorsal margin. Mesonotum with a single pair of short erect hairs. Katepisternum smooth, metapleuron and side of propodeum finely reticulate to reticulate-punctate (in some paratypes metapleural sculpture very feeble and almost effaced in places). Bullae of femoral glands distinct on all legs and of moderate size; with hind leg in dorsal view maximum length of bulla about 0.20 X length of femur and its width about 0.45 X maximum width of femur. Lamella on propodeal declivity narrow, with posterior (free) margin concave. Disc of postpetiole smooth. Standing hairs on first gastral tergite simple.

Paratypes. TL 2.6-2.8, HL 0.76-0.80, HW 0.60-0.63, CI 78-80, ML 0.38, MI 48-50, SL 0.44-0.46, SI 72-75, PW 0.30-0.34, AL 0.68-0.75 (6 measured).

In non-paratypic material the femoral gland bullae are smaller than in the type-series.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Indonesia: Sumatra, N Sum., 5 km. W Brastagi Tongkoh, 1450 m., 3.xii.1989, #29b (Lobl, Agosti & Burckhardt). Paratypes. 10 workers with same data as holotype (MHNG,, ).