Strumigenys liophila

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the lyroessa complex in the Strumigenys lyroessa-group. Among the seven species of the lyroessa-complex which have a pronotal humeral hair liophila is immediately distinguished by its long scapes and femora, relatively long narrow head and smooth patch on the katepisternum. The only species in the whole group that approaches the dimensions of liophila is Strumigenys morphica of the elapoma-complex, but that species lacks the very derived apical mandibular dentition exhibited by liophila. A comparison of critical dimensions of all species in both complexes (but excluding members of the prosopis-complex) shows the following.

S. morphica + liophila: CI 68-71, SI 67-71, maximum length of hind femur subequal to HW.

Strumigenys aechme + Strumigenys arrogantia + Strumigenys dryas + Strumigenys elapoma + Strumigenys hostilis + Strumigenys imantodes + liophila + Strumigenys lyroessa + Strumigenys micrura + Strumigenys sydorata + Strumigenys tantilla: CI 72-84, SI 49-57, maximum length of hind femur distinctly less than HW.

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

Nomenclature

 *  liophila. Strumigenys liophila Bolton, 2000: 871 (w.) BORNEO.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.5, HL 0.73, HW 0.51, CI 70, ML 0.21, MI 29, SL 0.36, SI 71, PW 0.30, AL 0.72. Characters of lyroessa-complex. Head relatively narrow, scapes relatively long and maximum length of hind femur about equal to HW. Upper scrobe margin and leading edge of scape with spatulate to narrowly spoon- shaped hairs. Apicoscrobal hair somewhat longer and more slender those on upper scrobe margin; posterior to this the margin without projecting hairs (minute ground-pilosity may occur). Cephalic dorsum with standing hairs restricted to one or two very short hairs at apices of occipital lobes. Pronotal humeral hair remiform, pronotum otherwise entirely lacking standing hairs. Dorsolateral margins of mesonotum with three pairs of erect short remiform hairs. First gastral tergite with erect remiform hairs that are longer and stouter than those on the mesonotum. Side of alitrunk with a smooth shining patch on the katepisternum.

Paratype. TL 2.5, HL 0.71, HW 0.49, CI 69, ML 0.20, MI 28, SL 0.35, SI 71, PW 0.30, AL 0.70.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Malaysia: Sabah, Crocker Range, 1 550-1650 m., 16.v.1987, no. 27a (Lobl & Burckhardt). Paratype. 1 worker with same data as holotype.