Strumigenys totyla

Known from rainforest litter-samples.

Identification
Bolton (2000) – A member of the Strumigenys scotti-group. Outer margins of mandibles shallowly convex. Distal preapical tooth about three-quarters the length of the proximal. Preocular notch present, small but distinct. Hairs on leading edge of scape only slightly smaller than those fringing upper scrobe margin, narrowly spoon-shaped. Pronotal humeral hair absent. Head slender and mandibles relatively short (CI and MI, above).

Bolton (1983) - Known only from the holotype, totyla is similar to a number of species with a preocular notch present but it does not extend ventrally as an impression across the ventral surface of the head. Among the six species falling into this category (Strumigenys relahyla, Strumigenys dyshaula, Strumigenys xenohyla, totyla, Strumigenys adrasora, Strumigenys rukha) the totyla holotype is easily recognized by its lack of pronotal flagellate hairs and presence of only 4 standing hairs on the cephalic dorsum. In all the others flagellate hairs are present on the pronotum and the cephalic dorsum has 6 standing hairs. Unfortunately the universality of these characters among the closest relatives of totyla makes me suspect that perhaps the hairs have been abraded away.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Cameroun, Central African Republic, Gabon.

Nomenclature

 *  totyla. Strumigenys totyla Bolton, 1983: 395, fig. 56 (w.) CAMEROUN. See also: Bolton, 2000: 611.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.3, HL 0.64, HW 0.45, CI 70, ML 0.28, MI 44, SL 0.34, SI 76, PW 0.29, AL 0.58.

Apical fork of each mandible with 2 spiniform teeth, without intercalary teeth or denticles. Preapicalarmament of each mandible of 2 stout teeth, the distal tooth about 0.75 X the length of the proximal. Outer margins of mandibles shallowly convex in full-face view. Upper scrobe margins bordered by a conspicuous laminar rim or flange throughout their length, the eyes visible in full-face view. Maximum diameter of eye about 0.17 X HW, the maximum diameter of the eye distinctly greater than the maximum width of the scape. Preocular notch present and distinct on the ventrolateral cephalic margin but the anterior portion of the eye not detached from the side of the head. Preocular notch ending at the ventrolateral margin, not extending across the ventral surface as a groove or impression. Antennal scapes slightly bent in the basal third, broadest at about the midlength and the leading edges equipped with a row of apically curved narrowly spoon-shaped hairs which are only slightly smaller than those fringing the upper scrobe margins. With the head in full-face view the sides behind the apices of the scrobe margins approximately straight and convergent posteriorly. Ground-pilosity of head consisting of inconspicuous small spatulate to narrowly spoon-shaped hairs. Upper scrobe margins with a row of anteriorly curved large spoon-shaped hairs. Dorsum of head with an occipital transverse row of 4 stout standing hairs, without a pair situated anterior to this row (it is possible that an anterior pair should be present but has been lost by abrasion in the holotype). Head finely reticulate-punctate everywhere. Pronotal humeri without flagellate hairs. Mesonotum with a single pair of stout standing hairs., Metanotal groove represented by a transverse line on the dorsum. In profile the posterior portion of the mesonotum depressed behind the level of the standing hairs. Propodeal teeth small, almost completely merged with the infradental lamellae and only with their extreme apices projecting. Sides of pronotum finely superficially punctate, the pleurae mostly smooth but with peripheral punctures; sides of propodeum finely punctate. Pronotal dorsum punctate and with irregular rugulae formed by alignment of the punctures, postero-central portion with some longitudinal costulae. Remainder of dorsal alitrunk and dorsum of petiole node reticulate-punctate, the postpetiole with some scratch-like faint striae towards the sides of the disc but smooth medially. Spongiform appendages of pedicel segments moderately developed, the petiole with a narrow ventral strip. Ventral spongiform lobe of postpetiole slightly larger than the exposed area of the disc in profile. In dorsal view the postpetiole is bounded by narrow spongiform strips both in front and behind, but spongiform material does not freely project beyond the outline of the sides except posterolaterally. First gastral tergite with a lamellate basal strip, the basigastral costulae short and radiating from the basal strip on each side of a clear central area. Dorsal surfaces of petiole, postpetiole and gaster with standing stout hairs. Colour yellow.

Bolton (2000) - HL 0.61-0.64, HW 0.43-0.45, CI 70-71, ML 0.28, MI 44-46, SL 0.32-0.34, SI 73-77, PW 0.28-0.29, AL 0.56-0.58 (3 measured).

Type Material
Holotype worker, Cameroun: nr Yaounde, sample no. 1784 (G. Terron).