Strumigenys avatar

Identification
Strumigenys avatar is a large, long-limbed, dark reddish-brown species with a distinctive head shape. The only other Fijian species resembling S. avatar is its close and better-known relative Strumigenys nidifex. The two can be easily distinguished by the first gaster tergite and sternite. In S. avatar, these are entirely striate-punctate. In S. nidifex, sculpture is restricted to short basigastral costulae on the tergite. Additional discussion of these two species is given under the notes of S. nidifex. Strumigenys avatar is known only from a single collection in the Nadarivatu area (Viti Levu), which is also the type locality of S. nidifex. The two are sympatric, which, together with the clear morphological differences, validates the distinction of two separate species.

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

Nomenclature

 *  avatar. Strumigenys avatar Sarnat, Hita-Garcia, Dudley, Liu, Fischer & Economo, 2019: 17, figs. 7C, 10E, 10F, 13, 26, Model 3 (w.q.m.) FIJI.

Description
Worker. Measurements (n = 6): TL 4.28–4.60 mm, HL 1.02–1.19 mm, HW 0.87–0.99 mm, CI 79–86, MdL 0.46–0.58 mm, MI 45–49, SL 0.89–1.01 mm, SI 74–83, PW 0.42–0.45 mm, PI 46–48, FL 0.89–1.01 mm, FI 99–107, EL 0.42–0.45 mm. Color dull dark reddish-brown with yellowish-brown appendages. Mandibles long and linear. Apical fork composed of two spiniform teeth and a single intercalary denticle. Single stoutly spiniform preapical tooth present close to the apicodorsal tooth. Cephalic dorsum uniformly reticulate-punctate; with five pairs of erect simple hairs on posterior margin and one pair close to the highest point of vertex. Antennal scapes very long. In full-face view, sides of head immediately in front of the eye with an abrupt and very conspicuous indentation. Vertex of head raised with dorsolateral margin mesad of eye formed into a knobby protuberance. Region of head between vertex and posterolateral lobes depressed. Scrobe absent behind level of eye. Pronotal humeral hairs simple, short and stiff. Two additional pairs of simple erect hairs present on promesonotum. Postpetiole with two pairs of erect hairs, first gastral segment with five pairs. Legs entirely lacking projecting hairs. Mesosoma, petiole, and postpetiole uniformly and finely reticulate-punctate on all surfaces. Propodeal teeth free; margin of declivity entirely lacking even a thin lamella. Petiole node in dorsal view conspicuously longer than broad. Spongiform appendages of waist segments reduced. On petiole present as a thin, narrow curtain subtending the ventral margin and posterodorsal margin. Entire first tergite and sternite of gaster finely striate-punctate.