Strumigenys gryphon

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the signeae complex in the Strumigenys godeffroyi-group. The broad, very long, streak-like femoral gland bullae render this species unique among the Austral fauna. On the dorsal surface of each femur the bulla commences behind the apex and extends proximally toward the femoral midlength. The bullae are unsculptured and paler in colour than the surrounding cuticle; they are particularly conspicuous on the fore femora. In most other Austral species the bullae are very small and subcircular to ovate; in some species they are indistinct or absent.

S. gryphon belongs to the aggregation of species immediately surrounding Strumigenys perplexa, that also includes Strumigenys geryon, Strumigenys cingatrix and Strumigenys deuteras. Among the Australian members of the signeae-complex all of these species are characterised by the presence of 3 pairs of erect stiff hairs on the mesonotum.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  gryphon. Strumigenys gryphon Bolton, 2000: 961 (w.q.m.) AUSTRALIA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.8, HL 0.68, HW 0.47, CI 69, ML 0.29, MI 43, SL 0.42, SI 89, PW 0.29, AL 0.71. With characters of signeae-complex. Apicoscrobal hair absent. Cephalic dorsum with narrowly spatulate curved ground-pilosity; 2-4 short standing hairs present on cephalic dorsum, located close to occipital margin (lost from holotype, present in paratypes). Pronotal humeral hair filiform and evenly shallowly curved; pronotal dorsum with 1-2 pairs of stiffly erect simple hairs and mesonotum with 3-4 similar pairs, the posterior pair the shortest. Entire dorsal alitrunk finely and densely reticulate-punctate, finest on pronotum. Bullae of femoral glands very elongate, on each leg occupying at least one-quarter of the dorsal length of the femur. Propodeal declivity with posterior (free) margin of lamella shallowly concave. Katepisternum with a smooth median patch. Metapleuron and side of propodeum with a small patch where sculpture is weaker and more diffuse than elsewhere, that extends only over the uppermost portion of the metapleuron and lowermost portion of the side of the propodeum. Petiole with a small but distinct lateral spongiform lobe. Ventral curtain of petiole well developed and spongiform. Dorsum of petiole node feebly sculptured; postpetiole disc glassy smooth. Lateral and ventral spongiform lobes of postpetiole well developed, in dorsal view the lateral lobe extends to anterolateral corner of disc. Hairs on first gastral tergite very long and fine, curved filiform to subflagellate. Basigastral costulae more than 7 in number but shorter than disc of postpetiole.

Paratypes. TL 2.8-2.9, HL 0.65-0.67, HW 0.46-0.47, CI 70-71, ML 0.28-0.29, MI 42-45, SL 0.41-0.42, SI 87-91, PW 0.28-0.29, AL 0.70-0.72 (2 measured).

Type Material
Holotype worker, Australia: New South Wales, Tenterfield, 23.i.1961, “Strumigenys perplexa F.Sm.”, dry sclero., gully, under rock (B. B. Lowery). Paratypes. 3 workers, 3 queens and 2 males with same data as holotype (ANIC, ).