Strumigenys emeswangi

Identification
Bolton (2000) - This small species is closely related to Strumigenys incerta. The two are separated as follows.

S. emeswangi: Hairs that project from side of occipital lobes include several pairs of longer fine to sub flagellate hairs, as well as shorter stouter hairs that are curved anteriorly. Anterior clypeal margin transverse to shallowly convex between points where outer margins of fully closed mandibles intersect the margin. Lateral spongiform lobe of petiole broad; in profile the maximum width of the lobe greater than the dorsal length of the node. Spongiform tissue of postpetiole relatively broad in dorsal view; maximum width of spongiform tissue on either side almost equal to the midline length of the disc. Larger, HL 0.56-0.57, HW 0.38-0.40, SL 0.28-0.30.

Strumigenys incerta: Hairs that project from side of occipital lobes all short, stout and curved anteriorly; no long fine to sub flagellate hairs present. Anterior clypeal margin concave between points where outer margins of fully closed mandibles intersect the margin. Lateral spongiform lobe of petiole narrow; in profile the maximum width of the lobe distinctly less than the dorsal length of the node. Spongiform tissue of postpetiole relatively narrow in dorsal view; maximum width of spongiform tissue on either side much less than the midline length of the disc. Smaller, HL 0.50-0.52, HW 0.33-0.34, SL 0.22-0.25. Tracking this small species through the key may lead to some confusion as numerous freely projecting hairs are present on the sides of the head. The point to note is that in emeswangi there is no apicoscrobal hair that is conspicuously different from hairs elsewhere on the dorsolateral margin.

The only other local species closely related to emeswangi is Strumigenys rostrataeformis of Japan, which may also eventually be found in China. The latter is easily differentiated as its specialised humeral hairs are stout and remiform, rather than being long fine and flagellate as in emeswangi.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  emeswangi. Pyramica emeswangi Bolton, 2000: 458 (w.) CHINA. Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 119

Worker
Holotype. TL 1.8, HL 0.51, HW 0.34, CI 67, ML 0.05, MI 10, SL 0.24, SI 71, PW 0.22, AL 0.51. Basal dental row apparently of 5 acute teeth. Anterior clypeal margin broadly shallowly convex, approximately transverse immediately behind the dentate part of the fully closed mandibles. Anteriorly curved spatulate hairs that fringe the clypeus elongate, narrow and very prominent. Dorsolateral margin of head in full-face view with a variety of laterally projecting hairs. Those on anterior portion of upper scrobe margin relatively short, narrowly spatulate and curved anterodorsally, in length about equal to those fringing the lateral clypeal margins. Behind this with a few similar hairs but also with a number of longer, more shallowly curved and strongly prominent simple hairs, and with a few even longer finer subflagellate hairs. Leading edge of scape sharply angulate at subbasal bend, distinctly broadest at this point. With head in profile the ground pilosity of the dorsum behind the clypeus markedly elevated, mostly suberect. Pronotal humeral hair flagellate, very long and fine (abraded in holotype). Entire head, all of dorsal alitrunk and side of pronotum reticulate-punctate; mesopleuron and metapleuron unsculptured. Hairs on dorsal alitrunk fine and simple.

Paratypes. TL 1.8-2.0, HL 0.50-0.52, HW 0.33-0.34, CI 65-67, ML 0.04-0.05, MI 8-11, SL 0.22-0.25, SI 69-73, PW 0.21-0.24, AL 0.50-0.53 (4 measured).

Type Material
Holotype worker, China: Fujian Prov., Jiangle Co., Longqi Mt, 8.ix.1992 (Min-sheng Wang).

Paratypes. 4 workers with same data as holotype (MCZ, ).