Strumigenys theia

Identification
Bolton (2000) - Members of the capitata-group in which the apicoscrobal and pronotal humeral hairs are uniformly stout and usually remiform or clavate (never flagellate) include the small to minute species Strumigenys charybdis, Strumigenys phasma, Strumigenys tethys and Strumigenys themis, and the distinctly larger species Strumigenys capitata, Strumigenys pedunculata and Strumigenys theia. In the smaller species of the first complex (HW 0.39-0.50) the postpetiole disc is usually smooth and shining, or at most with vestigial sculpture. The larger species of the second complex (HW 0.50-0.62) all have the postpetiole disc longitudinally costulate. Of the three theia is easily diagnosed as it has 3 (rarely 4) pairs of stout erect mesonotal hairs, and has the entire side of the alitrunk densely and sharply reticulate-punctate. In contrast both capitata and pedunculata have 2 pairs of standing mesonotal hairs and have most or all of the mesopleuron smooth and highly polished.

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

Nomenclature

 *  theia. Pyramica theia Bolton, 2000: 407 (w.) BORNEO. Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 129

Worker
Holotype. TL 3.0, HL 0.72, HW 0.61, CI 85, ML 0.17, MI 24, SL 0.35, SI 57, PW 0.44, AL 0.86. Basal lamella clearly visible even when mandibles fully closed. Apicoscrobal hair stout, remiform to weakly and gradually clavate apically. Cephalic dorsum with a pair of standing hairs just in front of highest point of vertex and with a transverse row of 4 similar hairs close to the occipital margin. Reticulate-punctate sculpture of head sharply defined, the dorsum with conspicuous short appressed spatulate ground pilosity. Eye with 6 ommatidia in the longest row. Dorsal alitrunk sculptured as the head. Pronotal humeral hair stout and remiform. With alitrunk in profile the entirety of the side blanketed with dense, sharply defined, reticulate-punctate sculpture; the mesopleuron without a smooth shining area. Mesonotum with 3 pairs of stout standing hairs that are remiform to clavate. Similar hairs present dorsally on petiole node (2 pairs), disc of postpetiole (3 pairs) and first gastral tergite (4 transverse rows with 3-5 hairs in each row). Petiole node in dorsal view densely reticulate-punctate, fractionally broader than long. Postpetiole disc finely and densely, but very sharply and conspicuously, longitudinally costulate.

Paratypes. TL 2.9- 3.0, HL 0.68-0.72, HW 0.59-0.62, CI 85-89, ML 0.17-0.18, MI 24-25, SL 0.34-0.36, SI 56-59, PW 0.42-0.45, AL 0.84-0.88 (7 measured). As holotype but eye with 5-6 ommatidia in the longest row. Most paratypes with same mesonotal pilosity as holotype but one with a fourth pair of shorter and finer standing hairs among the three stouter, longer pairs. Petiole node in dorsal view varies from about as broad as long to very slightly broader than long. Fine punctulae may be present on the postpetiole between the costulae. This is not obvious in the holotype but is more distinct in some of the paratypes.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Malaysia: Sabah, Crocker Range, 1350 m., 17.v.1987, no. 28a (Burckhardt & Lobl).

Paratypes. 5 workers with same data as holotype. 2 workers with same data but 19.v.1987, no. 31a (MHNG,, ).