Strumigenys katapelta

Identification
Bolton (1983, 2000) - A member of the dextra complex in the Strumigenys arnoldi-group. The non-paratypic material from Kenya answers to the description of the holotype but shows the following size range. HL 0.52-0.55, HW 0.43-0.48, CI 85-87, ML 0.20-0.23, MI 38-41, SL 0.26-0.30, SI 58-63 (5 measured).

The dextra-complex has only four species in which the distal preapical tooth of the left mandible has been lost, katapelta, Strumigenys irrorata, Strumigenys dextra and Strumigenys paranax. S. katapelta is easily separated from the other three as it is the only species to have an intercalary denticle between the apical fork teeth. Apart from this it separates from irrorata as that species has also lost the distal preapical tooth of the right mandible; from dextra as that species has flagellate hairs at the pronotal humeri; and from paranax as that species is much smaller, with a narrower head and longer antennal scapes.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Burundi, Kenya, Uganda.

Nomenclature

 *  katapelta. Strumigenys katapelta Bolton, 1983: 375, figs. 61, 76 (w.) BURUNDI. See also: Bolton, 2000: 593.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.1, HL 0.51, HW 0.46, CI 90, ML 0.20, MI 39, SL 0.27, SI 59, PW 0.27, AL 0.56.

Mandibles short and conspicuously bowed outwards in full-face view. Apical fork of each mandible consisting of a long spiniform tooth dorsally, a smaller spiniform tooth ventrally and an intercalary denticle between the two longer teeth. Blade of left mandible with a single long spiniform preapical tooth, the proximal; right mandible with a -similar proximal preapical tooth and with a very small distal preapical tooth also present. Head broad, the upper scrobe margins strongly divergent and the eyes not visible in full-face view. Eyes small, with only 3-4 ommatidia, their maximum diameter distinctly much less than the maximum width of the scape. Preocular notch absent, the ventral surface of the head without a preocular transverse groove or impression. Antennal scapes short and curved, their anterior margins flattened and expanded in the median third, broadest at the midlength; their convex leading edges with a row of shallowly spoon-shaped to flattened large broad hairs. Cephalic ground-pilosity of inconspicuous short stubby flattened hairs which are closely applied to the surface; without the scale-like or broadly spoon-shaped hairs usually seen in the arnoldi-complex. Upper scrobe margins fringed by similar small hairs, these hairs distinctly very much smaller than those on the leading edges of the scapes. Dorsum of head with a row of 4 standing hairs dose to the occipital margin, without a further pair of hairs situated close to the highest point of the vertex. Dorsum of head reticulate-punctate. Pronotal humeri without flagellate hairs, instead each with a projecting straight stout hair which is thickened and flattened apically, directed laterally and slightly elevated. Mesonotum with a single pair of stout standing hairs. Ground pilosity of dorsal alitrunk of small hairs similar to those on the head. Metanotal groove represented by a line across the dorsum. Propodeal teeth short and triangular, subtended by infradental lamellae whose free margins are concave. Sides of alitrunk smooth except for weak punctures around the periphery. In dorsal view the pronotum sharply marginate anteriorly, weakly longitudinally rugulose and with feeble punctures between the rugulae. Mesonotum reticulate-punctate. Propodeal dorsum smooth anteriorly but punctate posteriorly and between the teeth. Dorsum of petiole node almost smooth, with only the faintest vestiges of reticular patterning; postpetiole smooth. Spongiform appendages of pedicel segments well developed. The petiole in profile with a ventral strip and triangular lateral lobe. Postpetiole with large ventral and lateral spongiform lobes, the former larger than the exposed area of the postpetiolar disc in profile. In dorsal view the disc of the postpetiole surrounded on all sides by projecting spongiform tissue. Basigastral costulae short but sharply defined. Petiole, postpetiole and gaster dorsally with stout standing hairs. Colour brownish yellow.

Paratypes. TL 2.0-2.2, HL 0.50-0.53, HW 0.44-0.46, CI 88-90, ML 0.20-0.21, MI 38-40, SL 0.26-0.27, SI 57-60, PW 0.25-0.28, AL 0.54-0.56 (4 measured). As holotype.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Burundi: Bujumbura, 1977, no. 42 (A. Dejean). Paratypes. 4 workers with same data as holotype (BMNH; ).