Strumigenys faurei

Identification
A member of the rufobrunea complex in the Strumigenys arnoldi-group.

Bolton (1983) - Close to the West African Strumigenys rufobrunea but slightly larger and evenly yellow in colour, faurei also differs by having the postpetiole densely costulate, the subpetiolar process very reduced, the petiole node twice broader than long dorsally, and the ventral preocular impression broader and less sharply defined.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Mozambique, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania.

Nomenclature

 *  faurei. Strumigenys faurei Arnold, 1948: 226, fig. 12 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA. Junior synonym of rufobrunea: Brown, 1954k: 17. Revived from synonymy: Bolton, 1983: 371. See also: Bolton, 2000: 602.

Worker
Bolton (1983) - TL 2.2-2.3, HL 0.55-0.56, HW 0.43-0.44, CI 77-79, ML 0.25-0.26, MI 46-47, SL 0.30-0.32, SI 70-72, PW 0.25-0.27, AL 0.55-0.57 (6 measured).

Outer margins of mandibles shallowly convex, the blades weakly bowed outwards in full-face view. Apical fork of each mandible with 2 spiniform teeth, without intercalary teeth or denticles. Preapical armament of 2 teeth on each blade, the proximal spiniform and much larger than the distal. Length of left distal preapical tooth about equal to the distance separating the bases of the preapical teeth. Upper scrobe margins bordered by a narrow rim or flange, not concealing the eyes in full-face view. Maximum diameter of eye slightly greater than the maximum width of the scape. Preocular notch strongly developed, the anterior portion of the eye detached from the side of the head. Preocular notch continued onto ventral surface of head as a broad shallow impression whose margins are quite sharply defined close to the eye but are more rounded and indistinct elsewhere; the maximum width of the impression the same as or slightly more than the maximum diameter of the eye. Antennal scapes very feebly bent in the basal third, broadest at about the midlength and the leading edges equipped with a row of apically curved spatulate to narrowly spoon-shaped hairs which are distinctly smaller and finer than those on the upper scrobe margins. Ground-pilosity of head of minute spatulate hairs which are curved, inconspicuous and closely applied to the surface. Upper scrobe argins with a row of projecting large anteriorly curved narrowly spoon-shaped hairs. Dorsum of head with 6 standing hairs arranged in a transverse row of 4 close to the Occipital margin and a more anteriorly situated pair. Dorsum of head reticulate-punctate. Pronotal humeri each with a single fine flagellate hair. Mesonotum with a pair of stout standing hairs. Ground-pilosity of alitrunk similar to that on the head but the hairs sparse. Posterior half of mesonotum depressed behind the level of the pair of hairs and with a shallow transverse impression at the base of the slope, behind which the remainder of the mesonotum rises slightly to the level of the propodeum. Metanotal groove forming a transverse line on the dorsum, extremely weakly impressed. Propodeal teeth triangular and subtended by an infradental lamella. Sides of pronotum feebly punctate. Pleurae smooth except for sparse peripheral punctures and a patch on the upper half of the mesopleuron which is punctate. Pronotal dorsum finely longitudinally rugulose with weak punctures between the rugulae posteriorly. Remainder of dorsal alitrunk reticulate-punctate. Petiole node in dorsal view finely punctate, twice broader than long. Postpetiole with the disc finely and densely longitudinally costulate except for the posteromedian area which is smooth. Subpetiolar process reduced to a very thin laminar strip. Ventral spongiform lobe of postpetiole slightly larger than the lateral lobe but smaller than the exposed area of the postpetiolar disc in profile. In dorsal view the postpetiole with a thin transverse laminar strip posteriorly which abuts a similar but even narrower strip across the base of the first gastral tergite from which the fine but sharply defined basigastral costulae arise. Petiole, postpetiole and gaster with standing hairs which are broadened apically. Colour dull yellow.

Type Material
Bolton (1983) - Syntype workers and females, SOUTH AFRICA: Natal, Zululand, Sordwana, 21.v.1946 (J. C. Faure) [examined]. [Previously synonymized with Strumigenys rufobrunea by Brown, 1954: 17.]