Strumigenys hemisobek

Identification
A member of the Strumigenys murphyi-group.

Bharti & Akbar (2013) - The species hemisobek belongs to a group which consists of 5 species (dyschima, formosa, hemisobek, murphyi and nannosobek). Members of the group constituted part of the former genus Epitritus, now abandoned (Baroni Urbani & de Andrade, 1994 & 2007; Bolton, 1999). The group is mostly distributed in the Oriental and Malesian regions. The most westerly member of the group yet discovered, hemisobek is easily distinguished from other members of the group by its lack of orbicular hairs on cephalic dorsum and lack of eyes (Bolton, 2000).

India - Interestingly the specimens collected in India have small, rudimentary eyes represented by small, black spots placed in the middle of the antennal scrobes posteriorly. These spots however are very much diffused. The dorsal surface of gaster bears reduced, erect hairs. The ventral spongiform tissue is also reduced in specimens from India.

Bolton (2000) - The most westerly member of the group yet discovered, hemisobek is easily distinguished from other members of the group by its lack of orbicular hairs and lack of eyes.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India, Nepal.

Nomenclature

 *  hemisobek. Pyramica hemisobek Bolton, 2000: 452, figs. 265, 289 (w.) NEPAL. Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 121

Worker
Holotype. TL 1.8, HL 0.42, HW 0.44, CI 105, ML 0.18, MI 43, SL 0.22, SI 50, PW 0.27, AL 0.46. Inner margin of mandible with 3-4 preapical teeth, the basalmost of which is located proximal of the midlength. A series of medially directed projecting spatulate hairs arises from the inner margin of each mandibular blade. Apicodorsal tooth the longest but at full closure does not project beyond the outer margin of the opposing mandible. Dorsum of head without orbicular hairs, without any standing pilosity. Eyes absent. Subbasal lobe of scape terminates in a single large scale-like hair that points anteriorly. Leading edge of scape distal to this large hair with 3-4 small spoon-shaped hairs that curve toward the base of the scape, beyond which are 2-3 minute hairs that curve toward its apex. Transverse ridge on vertex poorly developed, shallow, low and broadly convex; more obvious in profile than in full-face view and its apices not angled anteriorly toward the anterolateral corners of the occipital lobes. Upper scrobe margin in full-face view shallowly concave between frontal lobe and anterolateral angle of occipital lobe. Head finely reticulate-punctate. Pronotal dorsum reticulate-punctate, concave medially. Mesonotum in profile with only a small shallow median impression in its dorsal outline. Propodeal dorsum sloping steeply posteriorly to the lamella on the declivity. Dorsal alitrunk and waist segments without standing hairs but first gastral tergite with numerous short straight erect hairs that are weakly clavate apically.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Nepal: Maewa Khola, Sanghu, 2.x.1961, 6500 ft, in moss on wet bank (K. H. Hyatt).