Strumigenys pedunculata

Known from mesic forest habitats, with specimens collected from litter and rotting logs.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys capitata-group. Together with Strumigenys capitata and Strumigenys theia, pedunculata forms a complex of closely related species within the group. The complex is characterised by a lack of flagellate hairs both apicoscrobally and at the pronotal humeri (stout non-flagellate hairs are present instead), the presence of costulate sculpture- on the postpetiole disc, and their relatively large size (HW 0.50-0.62). A closely related complex of species includes Strumigenys charybdis, Strumigenys tethys and Strumigenys themis, but these are usually distinctly smaller (HW 0.39-0.50) with the postpetiole mostly or entirely un sculptured and smooth.

In theia the lateral alitrunk is completely covered with s harp reticulate-punctate sculpture and the mesonotum has 3 (or rarely 4) pairs of stout standing hairs. In both capitata and pedunculata the mesopleuron is mostly or entirely smooth and shining, and the mesonotum has only 2 pairs of standing hairs. Differentiation of capitata from pedunculata depends upon the characters noted in the key, concerning the shape of the petiole node and size of the postpetiolar spongiform appendages.

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

Nomenclature

 *  pedunculata. Smithistruma (Smithistruma) pedunculata Brown, 1953g: 118, pl. 1, fig. 14 (w.q.) PHILIPPINES. Combination in Pyramica: Bolton, 1999: 1673; in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 125. See also: Bolton, 2000: 402.

Worker
TL 2.4-3.1, HL 0.60-0.70, HW 0.50-0.58, CI 80-84, ML 0.16-0.20, MI 25-29, SL 0.32-0.39, SI 64-69, PW 0.36-0.44, AL 0.68-0.88 (10 measured).

Apicoscrobal hair stout, usually somewhat flattened or weakly remiform apically but never flagellate. Dorsum of the densely reticulate-punctate head with a transverse row of 4 standing hairs close to the occipital margin and with a single pair of similar hairs just in front of the highest point of the vertex. Eye with 4-5 ommatidia in the longest row. Pronotal humeral hair long and stout, usually slightly flattened or weakly remiform. Mesonotum with two pairs of standing hairs, the posterior pair the longest; these hairs weakly remiform to feebly clavate apically. Similar hairs occur on the petiole node (2 pairs), the postpetiole disc (3 pairs) and the first gastral tergite (3-4 transverse rows). Side of alitrunk reticulate-punctate except for the mesopleuron which is mostly or entirely smooth and shining. Petiole in profile with the curved dorsal surface of the node distinctly longer than its anterior face. In dorsal view the petiole node reticulate-punctate and longer than broad, even if only slightly so. Disc of postpetiole finely and densely longitudinally costulate. In profile the ventral spongiform lobe of the postpetiole is at least equal in size to, and frequently larger than, the area of exposed disc.

Type Material
Holotype worker, paratype workers and queen, PHILIPPINES: Negros Oriental, nr Dumaguete, Camp 4-18-27, iv.1927, from log in wet draw, no. 1378 (J. W. Chapman) [examined].