Strumigenys roomi

This species has been found in a variety of habitats, including rainforest, cocoa and secondary bush, from collections taken from the soil and ground litter.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the laticeps complex in the Strumigenys argiola group. Apicodorsal mandibular tooth spiniform and very long, much longer than the apicoventral tooth. Mandible with a single small preapical tooth. Dorsal surface of mandible with 2 broad flattened hairs, the proximal of which is much smaller than the distal. Outer pair of strap-like hairs on anterior clypeal margin longer than inner pair. Cephalic dorsum with orbicular hairs absent from the area immediately behind the posterior clypeal margin. Additionally see notes under species-group and under Strumigenys laticeps; for differentiation from Strumigenys mormo see there.

Bolton (1983) - A very conspicuous species, easily separated from both its Afrotropical congeners which have 6-merous antennae by the form of the mandibles and distribution of orbicular hairs on the head. In roomi the mandibular apex terminates dorsally in an elongate spiniform tooth which strongly crosses over its counterpart on the opposite mandible at full closure, and the orbicular hairs do not commence immediately behind the posterior clypeal margin. In both Strumigenys laticeps and Strumigenys tiglath the mandibles do not have an enlarged spiniform tooth at the dorsal mandibular apex and the orbicular hairs commence immediately behind the posterior clypeal margin.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Cameroun, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast.

Nomenclature

 *  roomi. Epitritus roomi Bolton, 1972: 206, figs. 3, 4 (w.q.) GHANA. Combination in Pyramica: Bolton, 1999: 1672; in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 127. See also: Bolton, 1983: 356; Bolton, 2000: 291.

Worker
Bolton (1983) - TL 1.8-2.1, HL 0.42-0.47, HW 0.54-0.58, CI 120-129, ML 0.15-0.17, MI 35-38, SL 0.25-0.28, SI 45-48, PW 0.32-0.35, AL 0.46-0.52 (7 measured).

Mandibles with a single short recurved pre apical tooth which is situated very close to the apex. Apical armament of mandibular blades consisting of a dorsally situated elongate spiniform tooth, which crosses the opposite mandible at full closure, subtended by an edentate or microscopically serrate lamina and ending ventrally in a denticle. Dorsal surface of each mandibular blade with two large flattened hairs arising on the distal half, the apicalmost hair the largest, the second narrower and tending to be directed towards the midline between the mandibles. Anterior clypeal margin with 4 anteriorly projecting long spatulate or strap-like hairs, the outer pair the longest. A much smaller pair of spatulate hairs also present, projecting forwards from the clypeus between the larger hairs on each side. Clypeus dully shining, equipped with minute appressed spatulate hairs. Remainder of head densely reticulate-punctate and with conspicuous large orbicular hairs. Space on head behind the clypeus free of orbicular hairs, such hairs not commencing immediately behind the posterior clypeal margin. Antennae with 6 segments, the scape with a prominent anteriorly projecting subbasal lobe and fringed with large flattened to spoon-shaped hairs on the leading edges. Alitrunk in dorsal view with a broad but shallow arched impression between pronotum and mesonotum. Propodeum separated from mesonotum by a feebly impressed line. In profile the dorsal outline of the alitrunk is impressed at the promesonotal junction and the mesonotum is convex posterior to this. Propodeum shallowly convex and sloping downwards posteriorly to the broad laminae which border the declivity. Alitrunk everywhere finely and densely reticulate-punctate and dull. Specialized hairs absent from alitrunk but the dorsum, especially on the pronotum, with a scattered stubble of minute simple hairs. Petiole and postpetiole in dorsal view both distinctly broader than long, the latter with a conspicuous median impression. Spongiform appendages restricted to a narrow lamellar strip behind the petiole node, another behind the postpetiole and one across the anterior margin of the postpetiole which is short and restricted to the median concave portion of the margin. In profile the petiole with a narrow ventral carina, the postpetiole with a vestigial ventral lobe and a larger posterolateral lobe. Pedicel segments and first gastral tergite reticulate-punctate to granular, the latter with short feeble basal costulae but equipped with a number of erect clavate hairs. Colour medium brown.

Type Material
Bolton (1983) - Holotype worker and paratype female, GHANA: Eastern Region, Akwapim Dist.,. Mampong, litter sample in cocoa farm, 10.iv.1970 (P. M. Room) [examined].