Strumigenys festigona

The two collections of this species were taken from under a stone in second-growth montane rainforest.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys loriae-group. Distinguished from Strumigenys loriae by the characters given below, its broader relationships in the group are as noted under loriae. All known specimens of festigona, including a nest-series from Bulolo, Papua New Guinea, collected by B. B. Lowery (ANIC, in alcohol), fall into a fairly restricted size range. It would appear that the polymorphism seen in loriae is not present in festigona.

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

Nomenclature

 *  festigona. Strumigenys festigona Bolton, 2000: 861, fig. 460 (w.q.m.) NEW GUINEA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 3.9, HL 1.14, HW 1.02, CI 89, ML 0.48, MI 42, SL 0.69, SI 68, PW 0.45, AL 1.06. Closely related to Strumigenys loriae; answering the description of that species except as follows.

1 In full-face view side of head in front of preocular impression is expanded laterally into an anteriorly curved, acutely thorn-like triangular process; anterior margin of process concave and posterior margin convex.

2 Bulla of femoral gland on hind leg conspicuous, about equal in size to bulla of the hind tibial gland.

3 Ventral spongiform strip on petiole extremely shallow, less than one-third depth of peduncle or deepest beneath the node and tapering anteriorly; extending whole length of petiole.

Paratypes. TL 3.8-3.9, HL 1.11-1.16, HW 0.98-1.04, CI 88-90, ML 0.48-0.49, MI 42-43, SL 0.68-0.70, SI 67-69, PW 0.42-0.45, AL 1.00-1.06 (2 measured).

Dimensions of non-paratypic workers tend to be smaller. TL 3.2- 3.6, HL 0.96-1.07, HW 0.81- 0.95, CI 84-91, ML 0.42-0.46, MI 42-44, SL 0.58-0.64, SI 68-72, PW 0.35-0.42, AL 0.86-0.96 (6 measured).

Type Material
Holotype worker, Papua New Guinea: Wua, 1250 m., 7.200S, 146.42°E, 29.vii.1975, acc. no. 1016, under stone, second-growth montane rainforest (P. S. Ward). Paratypes. 2 workers, 1 queen, 1 male, with same data as holotype (BMNH, ).