Strumigenys pachycephala

The type material was found in a rotten log in montane rainforest.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys loriae-group. Immediately recognised within the group as it is the only species to lack a preapical tooth on the mandible. Like Strumigenys odalatra it has two intercalary teeth but unlike that species lacks long erect fine hairs on the hind basitarsi.

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

Nomenclature

 *  pachycephala. Strumigenys pachycephala Bolton, 2000: 864 (w.m.) NEW GUINEA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 3.5, HL 1.01, HW 0.86, CI 85, ML 0.42, MI 42, SL 0.56, SI 65, PW 0.43, AL 0.92. Apex of mandible with 2 conspicuous intercalary teeth; without trace of preapical dentition. Anterior clypeal margin shallowly concave, not deeply indented medially nor broadly V-shaped. In full-face view side of head in front of preocular impression rounded-convex and prominent but not expanded into a triangular or conical process. Cephalic dorsum reticulate-punctate, with scattered overlying rugulae. Dorsolateral margin of occipital lobe with a few simple projecting hairs that are short, stiff and stout. In profile cephalic dorsum with short stiff simple standing hairs from just in front of highest point of vertex to occipital margin, but such hairs only present laterally within concavity of transverse dorsal impression. Promesonotal standing pilosity restricted to humeral pair, a pair anterodorsally on pronotum and a single mesonotal pair; all stiff and simple. Pleurae and side of propodeum reticulate-punctate; may be a small smooth patch on katepisternum. Propodeal spines slender and straight. Bulla of femoral and tibial glands on hind leg visible, the former smaller than the latter. Dorsal (outer) surfaces of middle and hind basitarsi without erect hairs. Petiole node short and bluntly rounded in profile, the lateral spongiform lobe little more than an extension of the collar. Ventral spongiform strip on petiole deep and conspicuous, extending whole length of petiole. Petiole node in dorsal view much broader than long. Disc of postpetiole smooth and shining. Basigastral costulae shorter than length of disc of postpetiole. Standing hairs on first gastral tergite short and stiff, simple or slightly flattened and expanded toward the apex.

Paratypes. TL 3.5-3.6, HL 0.98-1.02, HW 0.86-0.89, CI 86-88, ML 0.41-0.42, MI 41-42, SL 0.56-0.58, SI 65, PW 0.43-0.45, AL 0.90-0.94 (2 measured).

Dimensions of non-paratypic workers. HL 0.88-0.92, HW 0.75-0.77, CI 84-85, ML 0.35-0.36, MI 39-40, SL 0.49-0.52, SI 65-68, PW 0.36-0.38, AL 0.80-0.84 (2 measured). These are identical to the type-series but smaller.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Papua New Guinea: lora Creek, 17 km. 5 Kokoda, 9.025, 147.44E, 4-6.viii.1976, 1400 m., acc. no. 1821, ex rotten log, montane rainforest (P. S. Ward). Paratypes. 15 workers and 3 males with same data as holotype (ANIC, ) [more in alcohol at ANIC].



References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65
 * CSIRO Collection
 * Janda M., G. D. Alpert, M. L. Borowiec, E. P. Economo, P. Klimes, E. Sarnat, and S. O. Shattuck. 2011. Cheklist of ants described and recorded from New Guinea and associated islands. Available on http://www.newguineants.org/. Accessed on 24th Feb. 2011.