Strumigenys lantaui

Strumigenys lantaui is currently only known from a single location where it was collected by leaf-litter extraction at the inner edge of a secondary forest.

Identification
Anterior clypeal margin medially shallowly convex with 6 anteriorly projecting strap-like hairs; lateral margin each with 3 anteriorly directed spatulate hairs that are smaller than those on the clypeal margin. Mandibles without preapical tooth. Antenna 4-segmented. Orbicular hairs present on dorsal surface of scapes, head, pronotum and mesonotum. Mesonotum in profile not forming a differentiated surface between pronotum and propodeum.

Strumigenys lantaui is a member of the argiola complex in the Strumigenys argiola group and shares all the characters (Bolton 2000). S. lantaui is well distinguished from all other Oriental species in the species group by its 4-segmented antennae, and absence of any scale-like, orbicular, or spoon-shaped hairs on the surface of the mandibles. In addition, unlike Strumigenys hirashimai or Strumigenys lachesis, projecting strap-like hairs on the anterior clypeal margin are not directed nor curved towards the midline. It is unlike Strumigenys hexamera and Strumigenys tisiphone, in the absence of preapical teeth, and the mesonotum, in profile, not forming a differentiated surface between pronotum and propodeum.

Strumigenys lantaui (HL 0.36–0.37, HW 0.31–0.33, ML 0.39–0.41) is also a smaller species than all other Oriental species in the species group: S. hirashimai (HL 0.40–0.46, HW 0.36–0.40, ML 0.42–0.48), S. lachesis (HL 0.39, HW 0.39, ML 0.42), S. hexamera (HL 0.50–0.53, HW 0.53–0.55, ML 0.57–0.60), S. tisiphone (HL 0.50, HW 0.48, ML 0.53), and S. sinensis (HL 0.52, HW 0.46, ML 0.50).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  lantaui. Strumigenys lantaui Tang, Pierce & Guénard, 2019: 23, figs. 9A-D (w.) CHINA.

Type Material

 * Holotype worker: Hong Kong, Lantau Island, Penny’s Bay, 22.3271N, 114.0335E, 9 m, 25 October 2017 (M. Pierce) (collection code WC-PBNON-06), Winkler [IBBL, ANTWEB1009620].
 * Paratype workers (n = 2): same data as holotype.