Strumigenys bequaerti

Specimens have been found in wet forest, rainforest and evergreen forest. Collections have been made from litter samples and from digging in soil.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys lujae-group. In the earlier survey of Afrotropical dacetines (Bolton, 1983: 345) bequaerti was included as a junior synonym of Strumigenys lujae. A re-examination of type-material coupled with the acquisition of fresh material from Cameroun and Zaire (in BMNH) shows that this decision was incorrect. All material assignable to the relatively rare bequaerti uniformly lacks an apicoscrobal hair. In the common and widely distributed lujae such hairs are universally present. The presence or absence of these important sensory hairs is remarkably consistent and significant at species rank, and therefore bequaerti was revived from synonymy and reinstated as a valid species (Bolton, 1995b: 382).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Cameroun, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Guinea, Kenya, Uganda.

Biology
Brown (1952) - As reported by Bequarti: “The nest of this ant was found at about 2200 meters altitude in the humid montane forest of the Butagu Valley, on the west side of Ruwenzori. It was situated in the humid and strongly shaded soil.” Additional specimens, which convene well with the cotypes at my disposal, were taken by F. Meneghetti in the similar cool montane forest (Mau Forest) of the Kenya Colony. This series, which contains winged females, reached me through the courtesy of Signor Consani.

Nomenclature

 *  bequaerti. Strumigenys (Cephaloxys) bequaerti Santschi, 1923e: 286 (w.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. Consani, 1951: 171 (m.). Combination in Serrastruma: Brown, 1952e: 80; in Pyramica: Bolton, 1999: 1673. Junior synonym of lujae: Bolton, 1983: 345. Revived from synonymy: Bolton, 1995b: 382; in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 116. See also: Bolton, 2000: 311.

Worker
Brown (1952) - HL 0.58-D.61 mm., CI 73-78, MI 35-37. Quite similar to medium-sized specimens of Strumigenys lujae, but with the head narrower on the average. Second and third funicular segments long and cylindrical, nearly or quite twice as long as thick. The chief distinction of bequaerti lies with its vestigial propodeal teeth; these are extremely reduced, little more than pronounced angles, obtuse or subrectangular in profile. Other characters as in lujae.

Bolton (2000) - TL 2.1-2.3, HL 0.54-0.66, HW 0.42-0.50, CI 73-77, ML 0.18-0.24, MI 32-38, SL 0.40-0.46, SI 88-100, PW 0.30-0.36, AL 0.62-0.74 (6 measured).

Apicoscrobal hair absent. Leading edge of scape with hairs on the proximal half that are curved toward the scape base. Dorsum of head with a pair of standing hairs at or just in front of the highest point of the vertex. Pronotal humerus with a flagellate hair. Pronotal dorsum reticulate-punctate. Mesonotum with a single pair of standing hairs. Propodeal teeth very small or obsolete.

Type Material
Bolton (2000) - Syntype workers, ZAIRE: Ruwenzori, 10.vii.1914 (Bequaert) [examined].