Strumigenys syntacta

Known from two forest litter-samples.

Identification
A member of the arnoldi complex in the Strumigenys arnoldi-group.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: South Africa.

Nomenclature

 *  syntacta. Strumigenys syntacta Bolton, 2000: 597, fig. 364 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.1, HL 0.54, HW 0.43, CI 80, ML 0.25, MI 46, SL 0.32, SI 74, PW 0.27, AL 0.58. Characters of arnoldi-complex. Mandible with outer margin shallowly convex; both preapical teeth in the apical third of mandible length. Distal preapical tooth less than half the length of the spiniform proximal; on left mandible may be reduced to a denticle. Scape weakly flattened, broadest at about the midlength; its leading edge moderately convex but not strongly expanded. Cephalic dorsum with a transverse row of 4 short standing hairs close to occipital margin, and with a pair of standing hairs close to highest point of vertex. Pronotal humeral hair flagellate; side of pronotum almost entirely smooth. Disc of postpetiole smooth and shining. Hairs on first gastral tergite short and stiff, very slightly flattened and expanded apically, appearing narrowly elongate-spatulate or extremely feebly remiform.

Paratypes. TL 2.0-2.2, HL 0.52-0.57, HW 0.42-0.45, CI 79-81, ML 0.24-0.26, MI 44-48, SL 0.32-0.34, SI 73-76, PW 0.26-0.29, AL 0.56-0.58 (5 measured). As holotype but eye showing variation in size.

Type Material
Holotype worker, South Africa: Natal, Weza Forest, 9.iii.1985, for. litter, E-Y 2188 (S. Emlrody-Younga).

Paratypes. 38 workers with same data as holotype (TVM,, , ).