Strumigenys mumfordi

Identification
A member of the Strumigenys capitata-group.

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

Nomenclature

 *  mumfordi. Strumigenys (Cephaloxys) inezi subsp. mumfordi Wheeler, W.M. 1932c: 160 (w.) FRENCH POLYNESIA (Marquesas Is). Combination in Smithistruma: Brown, 1948e: 105; in Pyramica: Bolton, 1999: 1673. Raised to species: Brown, 1953g: 124; in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 124. See also: Brown, 1964a: 195; Bolton, 2000: 401.

Bolton (2000) - Of the two known specimens previously assigned to this species Brown (1964) pointed out that the postpetiole and gaster of the Ooumu worker are missing. Most of the dorsal alitrunk of the Uapou (lectotype) worker is obscured by a large blob of glue; in fact, both specimens are not in the best condition. However, as Brown indicated, the distribution of standing hairs on the head of the Ooumu worker is as usual for the capitata-group, whereas in the Uapou specimen (not seen by Brown) the anterior pair of hairs is absent but the head does not show any signs of abrasion. Beside this, the measurements given by Brown show that the Ooumu worker is considerably larger than the Uapou specimen.

I therefore suspect that the two are not conspecific and hereby nominate the Uapou specimen as lectotype of mumfordi, excluding the Ooumu specimen from the type-series. S. mumfordi has the apicoscrobal hairs weakly clavate apically. These contrast strongly with the pronotal humeral hairs, which are long and flagellate. Coupled with this the anterior pair of standing hairs on the cephalic dorsum is absent, though the occipital transverse row of four standing hairs is present and distinct. Within the capitata-group this combination of characters is shared only with the West Malaysian vescops. The two are easily separated as in vescops the eye is minute (only 1-2 ommatidia) and the pleurae and side of the propodeum are smooth and shining. In mumfordi the eye has numerous ommatidia and the metapleuron and sides of the propodeum are reticulate-punctate.

Worker
Length about 1 mm. Even smaller than the variety taipingensis (=Strumigenys dohertyi) from Malacca, but very similar in form and proportions. Erect club-shaped hairs on the abdomen longer; head covered with evenly-spaced, white, squamiform hairs, which are decidedly coarser than those on the clypeus. Gaster shagreened, only slightly shining, the basal half of the first segment dark brown.

Type Material
Bolton (2000) - LECTOTYPE worker (by present designation), MARQUESAS IS: Uapou, Hakahetau Valley, 2500 ft, 8.xii.1929 (A. M. Adamson) [examined]. [Note that the second specimen mentioned by Wheeler (not seen, discussed by Brown, 1964: 195) from Nukuhiva, Ooumu, 4050 ft (Mumford & Adamson) (BPBM), is excluded from the type-series.]