Strumigenys varanga

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys mayri-group. Because of its combination of apical mandibular dentition, basally attenuated apical antennomere, concave anterior clypeal margin, presence of two laterally projecting hairs on the upper scrobe margin and presence of long erect hairs on the hind basitarsus, this large, long-scaped species is unlikely to be confused with any other.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  varanga. Strumigenys varanga Bolton, 2000: 982, fig. 535 (w.q.) AUSTRALIA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 3.1, HL 0.81, HW 0.49, CI 60, ML 0.40, MI 49, SL 0.52, SI 106, PW 0.30, AL 0.82. Apicodorsal and apicoventral teeth of mandible widely separated, with 2 intercalaries arising from the more or less flat vertical margin between them (not arising from dorsal surface of apicoventral tooth). Upper intercalary a small tooth, located close to apicodorsal tooth; lower intercalary an even smaller tooth or denticle. In full-face view preocular carinae very broad, conspicuously convex below frontal lobes. Apicoscrobal hair simple; a similar projecting hair present anterior to it, at level of eye. Ground-pilosity of head simple to extremely narrowly linear-spatulate, curved and somewhat elevated. A number of longer simple hairs along occipital margin, the pair that straddles the midline longest, erect or slightly hooked at apex; dorsum without erect hairs anterior to this. Dorsum of head and alitrunk reticulate-punctate, sculpture weakest on pronotal dorsum (effaced in some specimens). Lateral alitrunk with smooth areas on side of pronotum, on katepisternum and on metapleuron-propodeum. Pronotal humeral hair simple to subflagellate. Dorsal alitrunk with long elevated curved ground-pilosity and a number of longer straighter more erect hairs; usually 1-2 pairs on pronotum and 2-3 pairs on mesonotum. Propodeal declivity with a broad lamella, its posterior (free) margin shallowly convex to shallowly concave. Disc of postpetiole smooth anteriorly and medially, but laterally and posteriorly usually punctulate to finely reticulate-punctate. Hairs on first gastral tergite long and fine, simple to subflagellate and acute apically. Basigastral costulae short, restricted to zone immediately posterior to limbus.

Paratypes. TL 2.9-3.1, HL 0.77-0.82, HW 0.45-0.49, CI 58-60, ML 0.37-0.41, MI 47-51, SL 0.48-0.52, SI 106-109, PW 0.29-0.33, AL 0.78-0.86.

Dimensions of non-paratypic workers. HL 0.78-0.86, HW 0.46-0.50, CI 57-59, ML 0.36-0.42, MI 46-50, SL 0.50, 0.56, SI 108-114 (10 measured).

Type Material
Holotype worker, Australia: Queensland, Cooran Plateau, nr Traveston, 26.17S X 152.50E, c 400 m., 18.iii.1973, accession 73.226, ex rotten log, rainforest, ANIC ants vial 37.231 (R. Kohout & R. W. Taylor). Paratypes. 8 workers and 1 queen with same data as holotype, or with collector's name as R.W. Taylor only (ANIC, ).