Strumigenys trauma

Identification
Bolton (2000) - Presently known only from the Fiji Islands this small species (HW < 0.50) is related to Strumigenys charybdis, Strumigenys epipola, Strumigenys phasma, Strumigenys tethys and Strumigenys themis. Strumigenys trauma has only a single pair of standing hairs in front of the occipital margin (as opposed to a transverse row of 4 hairs), and its humeral hairs are very long. It has only a single pair of mesonotal standing hairs and has a very broad postpetiole. In addition its mandibles are relatively long (MI 26-27), an index matched in the complex only by themis (MI 25-29); others are shorter (MI collectively 19-24). Apart from these features it lacks characters diagnostic of other species in the complex: charybdis has much more extensive lateral petiolar lobes and a broad propodeal infradental lamella; epipola has a broader head and is lighter in colour; phasma has a uniquely shaped alitrunk and CI > 90; tethys has costulate sculpture laterally on the pronotum and on the metapleuron and propodeal side; themis is yellow with a narrow postpetiole and broader head (CI 85-89).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Fiji.

Nomenclature

 *  trauma. Pyramica trauma Bolton, 2000: 408 (w.) FIJI IS. Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 129

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.2, HL 0.60, HW 0.48, CI 80, ML 0.16, MI 27, SL 0.28, SI 58, PW 0.31, AL 0.62. Apicoscrobal hair stout, weakly remiform and truncated apically. Dorsum of head with a pair of standing hairs in front of the occipital margin and another pair just in front of highest point of vertex. Pronotal humeral hair stout but elongate and simple, only very feebly curved and very much longer than the single pair of stout standing hairs that occur on the mesonotum. Petiole with a single pair of stout hairs, postpetiole with 3 pairs. Alitrunk mostly reticulate-punctate but pleurae and side of propodeum smooth. Petiole node in dorsal view reticulate-punctate, broader than long and roughly transversely rectangular. Disc of postpetiole in dorsal view voluminous and about twice broader than the petiole node; lateral margins of disc shallowly convex, not strongly convergent behind the midlength. Lateral and ventral spongiform appendages of petiole and postpetiole well developed.

Paratype. TL 2.2, HL 0.62, HW 0.49, CI 79, ML 0.16, MI 26, SL 0.28, SI 57, PW 0.32, AL 0.62.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Fiji Is: Kadavu, Mt Korogatule, nr Matasawalevu, 18°59'S, 178°28'E, 4.vii.1987, 300 m., rainforest sieved litter, QM Berlesate No. 773 (G. Monteith).

Paratype. 1 worker with same data as holotype.