Strumigenys elapoma

Identification
Bolton (2000) - The two species of the elapoma-complex combine the apical mandibular dentition of the prosopis-complex with the dense strong sculpture of the lyroessa-complex, as noted in the diagnoses of the species complexes, above. S. elapoma and Strumigenys morphica are easily distinguished as their standard indices, and form and distribution of pilosity, are very different. Apart from these characters, the mandibles are less strongly flared outwards at the base in elapoma, where the ML is about equal to the maximum width across the outer margins of the fully closed mandibles. In morphica the ML is only about 0.82 X the maximum width across the outer margins of the fully closed mandibles.

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

Nomenclature

 *  elapoma. Strumigenys elapoma Bolton, 2000: 869 (w.) INDONESIA (Sulawesi).

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.4, HL 0.66, HW 0.54, CI 82, ML 0.23, MI 35, SL 0.28, SI 52, PW 0.31, AL 0.66. Characters of elapoma-complex. Head in profile markedly dorsoventrally flattened and very thin; scrobe in profile very narrow from top to bottom. Upper scrobe margin with anteriorly curved small spoon-shaped hairs that are only slightly smaller than those on leading edge of scape. Apicoscrobal hair short and simple; posterior to this the dorsolateral margin with 10 or more small stubbly projecting hairs that are about two-thirds the length of the apicoscrobal hair. Cephalic dorsum with a transverse row of minute erect hairs on the occipital margin; dorsum otherwise without standing hairs. Pronotal humeral hair stiff and simple. Promesonotal dorsum and dorsolateral margin with numerous small stubbly simple erect hairs; similar hairs present on waist segments and dense on first gastral tergite. Dorsal (outer) margins of middle and hind tibiae with numbers of the same small stiff hairs, suberect and much shorter than the maximum width of the segment from which they arise.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Indonesia: Sulawesi Tengah, nr Morowali, Ranu River Area, 27.i.-20.iv.1980, BM 1980-280 (M. J. D. Brendell).