Strumigenys daithma

A Fijian endemic that is known only from the holotype. It was collected from a rainforest litter sample.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the caniophanes complex in the Strumigenys caniophanes-group. This species, represented by a single specimen from Fiji, seems to represent the most far-flung member of the caniophanes-group. It was misidentified by Dlussky (1993) as wheeleri (now Strumigenys tumida). See notes under Strumigenys dipsas.

Sarnat and Economo (2012) - Strumigenys daithma is the only known Fijian representative of the caniophanes group, which Bolton describes as ants with fine and soft pilosity, and sculpturing that is denser and coarser than usual.

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

Nomenclature

 *  daithma. Strumigenys daithma Bolton, 2000: 756 (w.) FIJI IS.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.7, HL 0.72, HW 0.52, CI 72, ML 0.26, MI 36, SL 0.44, SI 85, PW 0.32, AL 0.71. Mandible with preapical tooth located close to the apicodorsal tooth and shorter than maximum width of mandible. Dorsolateral margin of head in full-face view with at least 4 freely laterally projecting flagellate hairs: one just posterior to frontal lobe, one just before and one behind level of eye, one in apicoscrobal position; a few other shorter soft simple hairs also present as well as simple ground-pilosity. Cephalic dorsum with fine curved standing hairs sparsely present from about level of eye to occipital margin; dense simple ground-pilosity also present. Dorsum of head finely and densely punctate-rugulose. Apical funicular segment not constricted basally. Pronotal dorsum longitudinally rugulose, mesonotum reticulate-punctate; propodeal dorsum mostly smooth but declivity with a narrow band of punctate sculpture between the teeth. Mesopleuron, metapleuron and side of propodeum smooth and shining. Pronotal humeral hair flagellate. Promesonotal dorsum with numerous erect subflagellate to flagellate fine hairs and with elevated simple ground-pilosity. First gastral tergite with finely filiform to flagellate hairs. Dorsal surface of hind femur with 2-3 long erect hairs; dorsal (outer) surfaces of middle and hind tibiae and basitarsi each with 1-2 freely projecting long erect filiform or flagellate hairs. Propodeal teeth short, narrowly triangular and acute. Petiole node in profile with a short oblique anterior face and a long curved dorsum. Disc of postpetiole finely longitudinally rugulose. Basigastral costulae dense, the longest about equal to length of postpetiole disc.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Fiji Is: Viti Levu, Road E of Monasavu Dam, 26.vii.1987, 17.435, 178.03E, QM Berlesate No. 788, 1000 m., rainforest, sieved litter, ANIC Ants vial 45.195 (G. Monteith.



References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65
 * CSIRO Collection
 * Sarnat Eli M. 2009. The Ants [Hymenoptera: Formicdiae] of Fiji: Systematics, Biogeography and Conservation of an Island Arc Fauna. 80-252
 * Ward, Darren F. and James K. Wetterer. 2006. Checklist of the Ants of Fiji. Fiji Arthropods III 85: 23-47.