Strumigenys loveridgei group

Strumigenys loveridgei group Bolton (2000)

Afrotropical-West Palaeartic

 * Strumigenys cryptura
 * Strumigenys loveridgei
 * Strumigenys sistrura

Worker Diagnosis
Mandibles in full-face view and at full closure stout and short triangular; serially dentate but with the basal most teeth not quite meeting. In profile dorsal margin of mandible distal of the clypeus markedly downcurved, at least the apical half almost at a right angle to the long axis of the head. In ventral view the outer margin of the mandible with a distinct inflected prebasal angle. MI 19-21.

Dentition. Basally with 5-6 stout conical and slightly recurved teeth, of which 3-5 or 3-6 are longer than the basal two; these large teeth followed by a series of 2-3 denticles that share a common base, giving a total dental count of 7-8.

Basal lamella of mandible large and sub triangular, at least as high as longest tooth and narrowly rounded apically; not visible with mandibles fully closed or at most with its anterior margin just visible.

Labrum terminates in a pair of broad lobes that are broadly rounded to truncated apically.

Clypeus with anterior margin broad and approximately transverse, varying from extremely shallowly convex to extremely weakly concave. Lateral margins of clypeus approximately straight or slightly con vergent posteriorly. Outer margins of mandibles intersect the anterior clypeal margin at or very close to the clypeal anterolateral angles.

Clypeal dorsum with small scale-like to spatulate appressed hairs. Lateral margins without freely projecting hairs.

Preocular carina not visible in full-face view, concealed by lateral expansion of the frontal lobe and frontal carina.

Ventrolateral border of head marginate in front of the eye, the margination may terminate anteriorly in a small triangular process. Postbuccal impression narrow and deep, conspicuous.

Cuticle of side of head within scrobe finely sculptured to smooth.

Scape short, SI 50-57, roughly subcylindrical with a flattened ventral surface and sharp leading edge that is shallowly convex throughout its length.

Leading edge of scape without projecting hairs; any pilosity present is minute, appressed and directed toward the apex of the scape.

Pronotum without a median longitudinal carina, not marginate laterally, the dorsum transversely convex.

Spongiform appendages of petiole and postpetiole well developed. Base of first gastral sternite with a distinct pad of spongiform tissue in profile.

Pilosity. Pronotal humerus with a long sub flagellate to flagellate hair. Dorsolateral margins of head with 2 projecting flagellate hairs on each side, one apicoscrobal, the other close to the occipital corner. Dorsal (outer) surfaces of tibiae with short to minute closely applied pilosity only.

Sculpture. Dorsum of head behind clypeus densely punctate to reticulate-punctate. Pleurae, side of propodeum and disc of postpetiole smooth.