Strumigenys ulteria

The two type workers, the only specimens of this species, were found in a montane forest soil-core sample.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the ebbae complex in the Strumigenys koningsbergeri-group. One of four relatively large species (with HL 0.75-0.80, HW 0.60-0.67) in the ebbae-complex, together with Strumigenys babelina, Strumigenys baladria and Strumigenys incomposita. S. ulteria is differentiated from these, and from all others in the complex, by the unique form of the mandible, described above. Other species with a strongly developed mandibular lamella (Strumigenys kapryx, Strumigenys menueta, Strumigenys synchysis) have both the lamella and the mandible differently shaped, and should not be confused with ulteria.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia.

Nomenclature

 *  ulteria. Strumigenys ulteria Bolton, 2000: 855, fig. 456 (w.) BORNEO.

Worker
Holotype. TL 3.0, HL 0.78, HW 0.64, CI 82, ML 0.36, MI 46, SL 0.44, SI 69, PW 0.35, AL 0.80. With characters of ebbae-complex. Preapical tooth stoutly conical and widely separated from apicodorsal tooth; length of preapical tooth almost equal to width of mandible at point where it arises. Inner margin of mandible sinuate, with a prominent translucent lamella. Lamella narrow near base of mandible where its margin is shallowly concave; thereafter margin shallowly convex, increasing in width distally to about level of midlength of mandible then narrowing and terminating just proximal of the preapical tooth. Outer margin of mandible shallowly concave through about the middle one-third of its length. Preocular concavity in ventrolateral margin of head conspicuous, broad and shallow. Upper scrobe margins evenly divergent and almost straight from frontal lobes posteriorly; only extreme tip of eye visible in full-face view or eye not visible. Dorsum of head in profile with short erect hairs along occipital margin, 1-2 on dorsum of occipital lobe and a single pair at highest point of vertex; without erect hairs anterior to this. Pronotum with a single pair of short standing hairs, close to anterodorsal margin. Mesonotum with a single pair of short erect hairs. Katepisternum smooth, metapleuron and side of propodeum mostly to entirely smooth. Bullae of femoral glands small but easily visible on middle and hind legs. Lamella on propodeal declivity narrow, with posterior (free) margin shallowly concave to straight. Dorsum of petiole node not densely reticulate-punctate, superficially sculptured to almost as smooth as disc of postpetiole. Standing hairs on first gastral tergite simple.

Paratypes. TL 2.9-3.0, HL 0.76-0.80, HW 0.63-0.67, CI 82-84, ML 0.36, MI 45-47, SL 0.42-0.44, SI 65-69, PW 0.35-0.36, AL 0.80-0.84 (3 measured).

Type Material
Holotype worker, Malaysia: Sarawak, 4th Division, Gn. Mulu N. P., 1930 m., v.-viii.1978, B. M. 1978-49 (P. M. Hammond & J.E. Marshall). Paratypes. 1 worker with same data as holotype; 2 workers with same data but 2070 m.; 2 workers with same locality data but 17.iii.1978, 2070 m., montane forest, soil core (N. M. Collins) (BMNH,, ).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Pfeiffer M.; Mezger, D.; Hosoishi, S.; Bakhtiar, E. Y.; Kohout, R. J. 2011. The Formicidae of Borneo (Insecta: Hymenoptera): a preliminary species list. Asian Myrmecology 4:9-58