Strumigenys tegar

Collection records show this is a wide ranging Madagascar species with broad habitat tolerances. It has been found in rotten downed wood, foraging on low vegetation and in litter samples.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the chroa complex in the Strumigenys scotti-group. S. tegar is distinguished from other species in the chroa-complex by its larger size and densely reticulate-punctate postpetiole disc. See under Strumigenys cabira for further discussion.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 *  tegar. Strumigenys tegar Fisher, in Bolton, 2000: 695 (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Holotype. TL 3.1, HL 0.75, HW 0.58, CI 77, ML 0.35, MI 46, SL 0.48, SI 83, PW 0.35, AL 0.82. Characters of chroa-complex. Mandibles almost straight and at full closure parallel except at base. Mandible with a narrow lamella on inner margin that extends from base to proximal preapical tooth; in dorsal view, inner margin of lamella shallowly and evenly convex and at full closure more or less touching at midlength. Upper scrobe margin evenly and shallowly convex in full-face view, not bordered by a rim or flange; eyes visible. Maximum diameter of eye slightly greater than maximum width of scape, with 5-6 ommatidia in longest row (left eye absent in holotype). Scape subcylindrical, shallowly and gently curved; hairs on leading edge spatulate or spoon-shaped. Cephalic dorsum densely clothed with curved narrow spatulate to spoon-shaped ground-pilosity, the upper scrobe margin fringed with hairs which are the same shape and size as those on the dorsum. Cephalic dorsum with 4 clavate standing hairs arranged in a transverse row close to the occipital margin. Pronotal humeral hair absent. Mesonotum with one pair of erect clavate hairs, located at anterior margin. Propodeum with 1 pair of short, clavate, posteriorly curved hairs immediately anterior of propodeal spines. Dorsal alitrunk with ground-pilosity as on head. Dorsum of alitrunk in outline very shallowly convex anteriorly and more or less flat posteriorly; posterior portion of mesonotum only very slightly depressed below the anterior margin of propodeum. Anterior mesonotum with a narrow carina above mesothoracic spiracle. Propodeal tooth broadly triangular, short, lamellate, pointed apically, and subtended by a narrow lamella on declivity. Alitrunk dorsum and sides densely reticulate-punctate; petiole node and postpetiole disc reticulate-punctate. In profile the petiole with a straight ventral strip that is less than the maximum width of mandible. Postpetiole with weakly developed ventral and lateral spongiform lobes. Basigastral costulae fine and numerous, without a central clear area, remainder of gaster smooth and shiny. Dorsal surfaces of petiole, postpetiole and gaster with standing clavate to remiform hairs. Anterior half of first gastral sternite without suberect hairs. Colour light brown.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Madagascar: Provo Fianarantsoa, 29 km. SSW Ambositra, Ankazomivady, 20°46.6'S, 47°9.9'E, 1700 m., 7.i.1998, sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), montane rainforest #1590 (32)-1 (B. L. Fisher).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Fisher B. L. 2003. Formicidae, ants. Pp. 811-819 in: Goodman, S. M.; Benstead, J. P. (eds.) 2003. The natural history of Madagascar. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, xxi + 1709 pp.