Strumigenys panopla

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the prosopis complex in the Strumigenys lyroessa-group. Within the prosopis-complex four species lack a pronotal humeral hair, have relatively short scapes, have extremely reduced gastral pilosity and show a gradual reduction in sculpture on the head and dorsal alitrunk: Strumigenys loricata, panopla, Strumigenys prosopis and Strumigenys strenosa. In panopla the cephalic dorsum and promesonotum retain reticulate-punctate sculpture (only slightly less strongly developed on the promesonotum than on the head) and the first gastral tergite has a basal and an apical pair of hairs. In loricata the cephalic dorsum is finely reticulate-punctate but on the promesonotum sculpture is reduced to small, separated punctures and is largely effaced; the first gastral tergite entirely lacks standing hairs. In prosopis the cephalic dorsum is finely reticulate punctate but the promesonotum is smooth and the first gastral tergite has only a basal pair of standing hairs. Finally, in strenosa the cephalic dorsum is almost entirely smooth and the promesonotum is smooth; the first gastral tergite retains a basal pair of standing hairs.

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

Nomenclature

 *  panopla. Strumigenys panopla Bolton, 2000: 874 (w.) WEST MALAYSIA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 1.8, HL 0.48, HW 0.39, CI 81, ML 0.16, MI 33, SL 0.22, SI 56, PW 0.23, AL 0.50. Characters of prosopis-complex. Dorsolateral margin of head with narrowly spoon-shaped curved hairs on upper scrobe margin to level of apex of scrobe; these hairs similar in shape and size to those on leading edge of scape. Posterior to this are shorter, narrower hairs that are more strongly appressed; there is no apicoscrobal hair. Cephalic dorsum with a single standing hair at apex of each occipital lobe, otherwise standing hairs absent. Pronotal humeral hair absent. Dorsum of promesonotum and waist segments without standing hairs. Propodeal declivity with a broad lamella whose posterior margin is confluent with the apex of the propodeal tooth. First gastral tergite with two pairs of erect stiff hairs, one pair near base, the other near apex. Cephalic dorsum finely densely reticulate-punctate, the promesonotum more weakly so. Dorsum of propodeum and petiole node unsculptured.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Malaysia: Pahang, Genting Highlands, Awana, 950 m., 4.iv.1993, #28 (Lobi & Calame).