Strumigenys akhtoi

Identification
Bolton (2000) - There are seven species in the mayri-complex that lack erect long fine hairs on the hind basitarsus. Two of these, Strumigenys rayma and Strumigenys fricta, have two freely laterally projecting hairs on the dorsolateral margin of the head, one close to the level of the eye, the other in the apicoscrobal position. Both these species also have the petiole node dorsum long, low and shallowly convex, much longer than the height of the anterior face; see under rayma.

The other five species (akhtoi, Strumigenys ferocior, Strumigenys hoplites, Strumigenys mayri, Strumigenys missina) have only a single freely projecting long hair on the dorsolateral margin of the head, the apicoscrobal, and do not have an elongate low dorsal surface to the petiole. Of the five akhtoi is isolated by its relatively large size, dark colour and very short propodeal teeth. Its katepisternum is entirely smooth and there is a distinct broad smooth patch on the metapleuron and side of the propodeum. S. hoplites has very long thin propodeal spines that appear needle-like in profile; its pleurae and side of propodeum are entirely reticulate-punctate except for a small smooth patch anteriorly on the lower half of the katepisternum.

The propodeal armament in ferocior, missina and mayri is intermediate in length between the short teeth of akhtoi and the exaggerated thin spines of hoplites. In ferocior and missina the pleurae and side of the propodeum are almost entirely reticulate-punctate, the only smooth patch is a small area anteriorly on the lower half of the katepisternum. Conversely, in mayri all of the katepisternum and most or all of the metapleuron and side of the propodeum are smooth. Coupled with this, mayri is distinctly a smaller species than both ferocior and missina, and has flagellate hairs on the body, as indicated in the key. The last two named are very closely related and best separated by their relative dimensions.

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

Nomenclature

 *  akhtoi. Strumigenys akhtoi Bolton, 2000: 878, fig. 468 (w.) NEW GUINEA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.7, HL 0.75, HW 0.53, CI 71, ML 0.40, MI 53, SL 0.52, SI 98, PW 0.30, AL 0.76. Characters of the mayri-complex. Preapical tooth spiniform, longer than maximum width of mandible. Cephalic dorsum with 4-6 erect simple hairs along the occipital margin and a similar pair at level of highest point of vertex. Preocular notch strongly present; ventral surface of head with a preocular transverse impression posterior to the deeply incised postbuccal groove. Pronotal humeral hair simple, pronotum otherwise without erect hairs; mesonotum with one pair of erect simple hairs. Dorsal alitrunk reticulate-punctate, on pronotum the punctures more diffuse anteriorly and may be partially effaced mediodorsally. Dorsal surfaces of waist segments and first gastral tergite with simple hairs. Katepisternum smooth and metapleuron also with a smooth patch, remainder of side reticulate-punctate. Propodeum armed with a pair of short teeth, length of one tooth less than distance separating their bases. Dorsal (outer) surface of hind basitarsus without long fine erect hairs. Petiole in profile with anterior face of node equal to or slightly greater than length of dorsum, in dorsal view petiole node broader than long. Disc of postpetiole with weak sculpture anteriorly and laterally, remainder smooth. Darkly coloured species, dark brown to blackish brown.

Paratypes. TL 2.6-2.7, HL 0.72-0.76, HW 0.51-0.53, CI 70-72, ML 0.39-0.41, MI 53-55, SL 0.50-0.54, SI 98-102, PW 0.28-0.31, AL 0.72-0.78 (10 measured).

Type Material
Hoiotype worker, Papua New Guinea: Morobe, Wau, Mt Koiorong, 2300 m., 2.vi.1992 (G. Cuccodoro). Paratypes. 23 workers with same data as hoiotype (MHNG,, ).