Strumigenys ahares

Identification
Bolton (2000) - Immediately recognisable by its uniquely modified mandibles. The postpetiole may be teratological, other material when discovered may not show this strangely reduced structure. See notes under Strumigenys signeae.

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

Nomenclature

 *  ahares. Strumigenys ahares Bolton, 2000: 819, fig. 436 (w.) INDONESIA (Sumatra).

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.3, HL 0.64, HW 0.52, CI 81, ML 0.31, MI 48, SL 0.39, SI 75, PW 0.29, AL 0.64. Characters of signeae-complex. With head in full-face view outer margins of mandibles concave from base to just proximal of preapical tooth. Inner margins of mandibles convex, touching basally at full closure for about the basal third of their length then separating and diverging to the apex. Inner margin from about midlength to just proximal of preapical tooth with a low cuticular ridge that ends abruptly close to preapical tooth. Mandible in profile stout, broadest at about the midlength, the ventral margin convex from base to just distal of the midlength. Apicoscrobal hair stoutly remiform; margin posterior to this with 2-3 shorter projecting stout hairs. Cephalic dorsum with a transverse row of 4-6 erect hairs at occipital margin; without standing hairs anterior to this. Pronotal humeral hair remiform, pronotal dorsum without erect hairs; mesonotum with a single erect remiform pair. Dorsal alitrunk punctulate, the sculpture more diffuse and partially effaced posteromedially on pronotal dorsum. Side of alitrunk with pleurae and propodeum mostly to entirely smooth. Petiole node in dorsal view broader than long, punctulate. Petiole in profile with anterior face of node longer than dorsum. Lateral spongiform lobe of petiole small, reduced to a posterolateral collar. Postpetiole very small, in dorsal view the disc merely a narrow transverse strip that is much broader than long and much shorter than length of petiole node; its surface with feeble punctulate sculpture. In profile postpetiole much shorter than length of petiole node. First gastral tergite with elongate stout remiform hairs.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Indonesia: Sumatra, Jambi, Mt Kerinci, 3000 m., 12.xi.1989, #13 (Agosti, Lobl & Burckhardt).