Stictoponera toronates

One of the small number of specimens of this species was collected from the edge of a primary montane forest.

Identification
Lattke (2004) - Gnamptogenys coxalis may be confused with Gnamptogenys toronates, but G. coxalis has the propodeal spiracle nearer to the propodeal dorsum than G. toronates when seen laterally and the declivitous and dorsal propodeal margins separate at the denticle. In G. toronates the propodeal denticles are posterad of the break between both propodeal margins. In G. coxalis the subpetiolar process does not form an acutely pointed lobe without a posterior angle as in G. toronates.

Distribution
Only known from Sabah, Malaysia.

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

Castes
Queen and male are unknown.

Nomenclature

 *  toronates. Gnamptogenys toronates Lattke, 2004: 151, fig. 36 (w.) BORNEO.

Frons and mesosoma mostly smooth with scattered foveolae. Petiolar node slightly higher anterad than posterad in lateral view, sculpture mostly smooth with scattered punctae; postpetiolar dorsum mostly smooth with scattered foveolae.

Worker
Metrics. Holotype: HL 1.72, HW 1.38, ML 0.83, SL 1.41, ED 0.28, WL 2.31 mm. CI 0.80, SI 1.02, MI 0.60, OI 0.20. Head with straight lateral margins in frontal view, posterior margin convex, posterolaterally ending with denticle-like projections, anterior margin of clypeal lamella sinuate, with concavities laterad of median convexity and lateral angles; frons mostly smooth with scattered foveolae; clypeus longitudinally strigulose with median raised area laterally bound by ridges that extend from lateral edges of lamella, extending posterad to anterior edge of frontal lobes; fine longitudinal sulcus extends posterad from frontal triangle to just posterad of eye level in frontal view; occipital lamella with angular posterior and anterior ends in lateral view; scape mostly smooth with scattered piligerous punctae; mandibular dorsum longitudinally strigulose-punctate.

Mesosoma mostly smooth with scattered foveolae, promesonotal suture brief, transverse; anepisternum roughly subquadrate; metanotal sulcus impressed as fine transverse line; mesosoma with broadly convex dorsal margin in lateral view, joining propodeal declivity through broad convexity; propodeal declivity mostly smooth; petiolar dorsum mostly smooth with scattered punctae, slightly higher anterad than posterad in lateral view, ventral process narrow and lobe like in lateral view, projecting anterad. Postpetiolar dorsum mostly smooth with scattered foveolae, foveolae elongate towards posterior margin, posterior margin with brief transverse striae, sternum with median area of transverse rugae; dorsum of abdominal segment 4 longitudinally costulate with piligerous depressions between costae. Fore coxa transversely strigose laterally, fore tarsal base opposite strigil with single stout seta and fine comb apically. Metacoxal tooth triangular, straight, tapering apically.

Type Material
Holotype worker. Malaysia, Sabah, Crocker Range, 19-v-87, D. Burckhardt & I. Löbl 31a. Deposited in.

Etymology
The species name is a compound epithet derived from the Latin words for “bulge,” torus (m.), and “buttocks,” natis (f.). It alludes to the mostly smooth sculpturing compared with other species of Gnamptogenys that have a costulate fourth abdominal tergite.

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