Strumigenys propinqua

One of the small number of collections of this species notes the ants were found in a wet forest litter-sample.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the prosopis complex in the Strumigenys lyroessa-group. S. propinqua is the most densely hairy species known in the prosopis-complex. It has the densest gastral pilosity and is the only one with laterally projecting hairs on the dorsolateral margin of the head behind the level of the apex of the scrobe. The closest related species appears to be Strumigenys anchiplex, the two together being generally more densely hairy than others in the complex, having somewhat longer scapes (SI 60-62 as opposed to SI 52-56 in the remainder of the complex) and possessing a stiff pronotal humeral hair.

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

Nomenclature

 *  propinqua. Strumigenys propinqua Bolton, 2000: 874 (w.q.) BORNEO.

Worker
Holotype. TL 1.8, HL 0.48, HW 0.39, CI 81, ML 0.16, MI 33, SL 0.24, SI 62, PW 0.25, AL 0.49. Characters of prosopis-complex. Dorsolateral margin of head with spatulate to narrowly spoon-shaped curved hairs on upper scrobe margin to level of apex of scrobe; posterior to this are longer, narrower short hairs that are more elevated and more strongly projecting. Cephalic dorsum with short standing hairs present from highest point of vertex to occipital margin. Pronotal humeral hair stiff, stout and simple. Dorsum of promesonotum with numerous short stiff erect hairs; similar hairs present on waist segments. First gastral tergite evenly clothed with similar but slightly longer hairs that are distributed over the entire sclerite. Propodeal declivity with a narrow lamella that engages the propodeal tooth only close to its base. Cephalic dorsum and entire dorsal alitrunk finely densely reticulate-punctate, the two not contrasting. Dorsum of petiole node finely reticulate-punctate.

Paratypes. As holotype but ML 0.17, MI 35.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Malaysia: Sabah, Poring Hot Springs, Langanan Riv., 850 m., 14.v.1987, #25a (Lobl & Burckhardt). Paratypes. 3 workers and 1 queen with same data as holotype; 1 worker and 1 queen, Sabah, Poring Hot Springs, 900 m., 12.v.1987, #22a (Burckhardt & Lobl) (MHNG, ).