Strumigenys baal

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the rofocala complex in the Strumigenys godeffroyi-group. Differs from both Strumigenys edaragona and Strumigenys rofocala as both those species have the pleurae and side of the propodeum entirely smooth. The degree of basal constriction of the apical antennomere is also much greater in edaragona and rojocala than in baal. In the first two the base of the segment is strongly constricted close to its articulation with the preapical segment, whereas in baal the apical antennomere tapers evenly through the proximal half of its length.

S. baal may be confused with abraded specimens of Strumigenys dyak: see notes under the latter.

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

Nomenclature

 *  baal. Strumigenys baal Bolton, 2000: 816 (w.) BORNEO.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.7, HL 0.74, HW 0.50, CI 68, ML 0.31, MI 42, SL 0.44, SI 88, PW 0.32, AL 0.78. Characters of rofocala-complex. Apicoscrobal hair simple, acute apically; 2-3 similar but shorter hairs project from margin posterior to this. Cephalic dorsum with a transverse row of 4-6 stiffly erect simple hairs at the occipital margin; anterior to this the head with short ground-pilosity that is straight, elevated and inclined anteriorly, but without erect hairs similar to those at the occipital margin. Pronotal humeral hair flagellate. Dorsum of pronotum and mesonotum each with a single pair of erect hairs. Dorsum of alitrunk and petiole node densely reticulate-punctate. Side of alitrunk reticulate-punctate except for katepisternum which is smooth. Lateral spongiform lobe of petiole relatively large, in profile or in dorsal view the lobe extends forward to just beyond midlength of node but does not attain the anterior face of the node. In profile height of anterior face of node distinctly less than length of dorsum. Disc of postpetiole smooth, in dorsal view distinctly broader than long, roughly transversely elliptical and without a sharply angled or carinate longitudinal margin between dorsum and side of sclerite. Basigastral costulae equal in length to, or slightly shorter than, disc of postpetiole. First gastral tergite with simple standing hairs.

Paratype. TL 2.5, HL 0.68, HW 0.47, CI 69, ML 0.29, MI 43, SL 0.40, SI 85, PW 0.30, AL 0.71.

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

Paratypes. 1 worker with same data as holotype; 1 worker, Sabah, Crocker Range, 1600 m., 18.v.1987, no. 30a (Lobl & Burckhardt) (MHNG, ).