Strumigenys anetes

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys mayri-group. S. anetes, Strumigenys dysanetes, Strumigenys orthanetes and Strumigenys paranetes are unique in the Austral fauna because of the absence of well developed preapical teeth on their mandibles. The only other uniquely Australian members of the group, Strumigenys philiporum and Strumigenys varanga, have strongly developed sharp preapical teeth, as also do the three mayri-group species that occur jointly in the Austral and Malesian regions (Strumigenys ferocior, Strumigenys mayri, Strumigenys racabura); in addition these last three species have deep narrow preocular notches.

S. anetes separates easily from its three closest relatives as it is the only one in which the posterior (free) margin of the propodeal lamella is concave in profile view; in dysanetes, orthanetes and paranetes the lamella is conspicuously convex.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  anetes. Strumigenys anetes Brown, 1988f: 42, 2 figs. (w.) AUSTRALIA. See also: Bolton, 2000: 978.

Worker
TL 2.8-3.1, HL 0.80-0.89, HW 0.52-0.59, CI 64-69, ML 0.36-0.40, MI 44-48, SL 0.52-0.58, SI 96-104, PW 0.28-0.32, AL 0.72-0.83 (15 measured).

Mandible without trace of preapical dentition; intercalary denticle low and blunt. Apicoscrobal hair subflagellate. Stiffly erect simple hairs present along occipital margin and a similar pair at highest point of vertex. Pronotal humeral hair subflagellate to flagellate, pronotal dorsum otherwise without standing hairs; mesonotum with a single pair of erect hairs. Dorsal (outer) surfaces of tibiae and basitarsi without long erect filiform or flagellate hairs. Standing hairs on first gastral tergite mainly simple, but may be subflagellate or narrowly looped apically; hairs on second tergite more obviously flagellate. Lamella on propodeal declivity narrow, its posterior (free) margin concave. Head, dorsal alitrunk and petiole node reticulate-punctate; mesopleuron, metapleuron and side of propodeum mostly to entirely smooth, at most with peripheral punctate sculpture. Basigastral costulae strongly developed, about as long as disc of postpetiole.

Type Material
Holotype and paratype workers, AUSTRALIA: Queensland, Atherton Tableland, Malanda, 4 & 5.xi.1950, rotten logs (W. L. Brown); paratype workers, AUSTRALIA: Queensland, Shipton’s Flat, S of Cooktown, 1.vi.1958 (P. F. & P. J. Darlington); Qld, nr Atherton, Jr Herberton Rd., 4000 ft, 16.vi.1962, No. 1617, rotten log (R. W. Taylor); Qld, Lake Eacham Nat. Pk, No. 1438, rain forest, rotten log (R. W. Taylor) [examined].