Strumigenys guttulata

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the horvathi complex in the Strumigenys horvathi-group. Easily distinguished from members of the emdeni-complex as guttulata has a much broader mandibular lamella and a shallow and poorly defined posterior portion to the scrobe.

The ANIC material of guttulata contains two queens that appear to belong to this species. Although probably correctly associated I reserve some doubt, because the queens have apicoscrobal and pronotal humeral hairs present, features that are absent from the workers. Humeral hairs occur in workers only in a New Guinean species of this complex, Strumigenys snellingi. The queen of this species remains unknown and workers referable to snellingi have not been found in Australia.

The Malesian Strumigenys horvathi is very closely related to guttulata and the two may eventually prove to be inseparable. However, samples currently assigned to horvathi differ from guttulata by having a smooth patch on the katepisternum and a postpetiole disc that is unsculptured or at most weakly shagreenate.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  guttulata. Strumigenys guttulata Forel, 1902h: 458 (w.) AUSTRALIA. See also: Brown, 1973c: 264; Bolton, 2000: 975.

Worker
Bolton (2000) - TL 2.3-2.8, HL 0.65-0.77, HW 0.47-0.59, CI 69-78, ML 0.22-0.26, MI 32-36, SL 0.29-0.40, SI 60-70, PW 0.25-0.32, AL 0.62-0.77 (20 measured).

Characters of horvathi-complex. Inner margin of mandible with a broad translucent cuticular lamella that commences at mandible base and is abruptly truncated just proximal of the curved-spiniform preapical tooth; maximum width of lamella nearly equal to length of preapical tooth. When mandibles fully closed inner margins of lamellae meet or even slightly overlap. Outer curvature of eyes visible in full-face view, not concealed by upper scrobe margins. Ventrolateral margin of head in front of eye evenly and quite distinctly concave (but without a preocular notch such as is seen in Strumigenys mayri and its allies), the concavity masked in full-face view by the preocular carina. With head in profile the scrobe weak behind the level of the eye, shallow, poorly defined and without sharp margins. Dorsal surfaces of head and promesonotum densely clothed with orbicular ground-pilosity. Posteriorly on mesonotum these hairs may be more elevated than elsewhere but there are no erect hairs anywhere on the cephalic and alitrunk dorsa. First gastral tergite with numerous erect stiff hairs that are slightly thickened or flattened apically, or weakly remiform. Dorsum of head and alitrunk reticulate-punctate but sculpture much concealed by ground-pilosity. Side of alitrunk entirely reticulate to reticulate-punctate, without a smooth area on katepisternum. Disc of postpetiole reticulate-shagreenate to reticulate-punctate.

Type Material
Bolton (2000) - Syntype workers, AUSTRALIA: Queensland, Mackay (Turner) [examined].