Strumigenys buddhista

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Baroni Urbani & De Andrade (2007) - A member of the godeffroyi complex in the Strumigenys godeffroyi-group. Resembling Strumigenys uberyx and Strumigenys hindu, but differing from uberyx by the mandibles longer and with less convex sides and by the anterior face of the petiolar node more protruding anteriorly, and from hindu by its smaller size (TL 1.96 mm instead of 2.50 mm), by the smaller SI (90.9 instead of SI = 102.6), and from both, uberyx and hindu, by the standing hairs on the head dorsum, less numerous.

Strumigenys buddhista is very similar to uberyx and hindu. These three species have similar body sculpture but the number of standing hairs on the head dorsum helps to separate them. The three rows of standing hairs on the head dorsum are placed as follows: 1 row close to the vertexal margin, 1 row at the same line as the dorsolateral flagellate hairs and 1 row at the level of the eyes. In buddhista the rows have 4,2,2 hairs, in uberyx the rows have 4,4,4 hairs and in hindu the rows have 4,4,2 hairs. Besides the differences in the number of standing hairs on the head dorsum, buddhista differs from uberyx and hindu by the higher value of MI (46 instead of MI 41-42 as in uberyx and hindu). In addition, buddhista and uberyx share the small size and buddhista and hindu share the anterior face of the petiole protruding anteriorly and tumuliform.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Nepal.

Nomenclature

 *  buddhista. Strumigenys buddhista De Andrade, in Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 159, fig. 55 (w.) NEPAL.

Worker
TL 1.96; HL 0.50; HW 0.33; SL 0.30; ML 0.23; EL 0.02; WL 0.51; CI 66.0; SI 90.9; MI 46.0.

Head sides converging anteriorly, with round vertexal corners. Frontal lobes weakly expanded and convex. Antennal fossae ventrally with a marked carina visible in full-face view, straight, covering the lower margin of the scrobes and ending close to the eyes. Eyes small, with 2 ommatidia in the longest row, placed over the ventral margin of the antenna I scrobes, and slightly visible in dorsal view. With the head in profile the scrobe distinct, with superficially marked upper and lower margins. Clypeal dorsum weakly concave medially. Lateral clypeal margin gently converging anteriorly into a straight margin. Scapes subcylindrical, about 3/5 of the head length and surpassing the eyes posteriorly. Antennae with six segments. Apical funicular joint longer than the rest of the funiculus. Mandibles diverging anteriorly and curved on the two anterior thirds. Apical fork of the mandibles with two spiniform teeth and with one intercalary denticle. Preapical dentition consisting of one spiniform tooth near the apex.

Mesosoma in profile with weakly convex mesonotum and with a longitudinal carina starting from the mesonotum and ending on the anterior half of the basal face of the propodeum; the carina thicker and shaped as a small triangular protuberance on the propodeum. Posterior half of the propodeum declivous. Propodeal teeth pointed and ventrally connected to a lamella.

Petiole with a long neck and with the node high, weakly convex dorsally and broadly tumuliform anteriorly. Ventral surface of the petiole with a broad spongiform lamina. Petiolar node with posterior margin and posterior sides surrounded by spongiform process. Postpetiole gently convex in profile. Anterior, lateral and posterior margin of the postpetiole surrounded by spongiform processes. Ventral surface of the postpetiole with large and dense spongiform process.

Gaster oval and with few, thin, very short costulae. Base of the first gastral tergite and sternite with a spongiform pad larger on the tergite.

Sculpture. Head minutely reticulate-punctuate. Pronotum, pleurae and declivous face of the propodeum smooth; in addition the pronotum with a few sparse punctures. Mesonotum, basal face of the propodeum and petiole punctuate. Postpetiole and gaster smooth.

Pilosity. Head, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole with appressed hairs, denser on the petiole. Dorsolateral margin of the head in full-face view with only the apicoscrobal flagellate hairs. Cephalic dorsum with three rows of erect hairs, the first row with 4 hairs close to the occipital margin, the second row with 2 standing hairs and the third row with 2 standing hairs on the frons. Upper scrobal margin with narrowly spoon-shaped hairs curved anteriorly. Clypeal border with similar hairs as the upper scrobe. Scapes with similar hairs as the upper scrobes and curved posteriorly. Pronotal humeral hairs long and flagellate. Dorsum of the pronotum with a pair of erect, long flagellate hairs. Mesonotum with a pair of erect, flagellate hairs. Petiole, postpetiole and gaster with few erect flagellate hairs. Outer face of mid and hind tibiae with an erect, long, flagellate hair. Hind basi tarsi with 1 pair of erect, long, flagellate hairs.

Colour. Light brown.

Type Material
Holotype worker (unique) from Nepal labelled: Pokhara, 820 m, 15-18.VI.1976, Nepal, W. Wittmer, C. Baroni Urbani.

Etymology
Name derived from the Buddhism, the second major religion in Nepal.