Strumigenys tethys

This species has been found in rainforest litter-samples.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys capitata-group. Within the group tethys belongs to a complex of small to minute species (HW 0.50 or less), with a mostly to entirely smooth postpetiole disc, that also includes Strumigenys charybdis, Strumigenys epipola, Strumigenys phasma and Strumigenys themis. Apart from their small size these five species have the apicoscrobal and pronotal humeral hairs stout and blunted to weakly remiform or clavate apically. Of the five tethys is immediately characterised by the costulate sculpture on the lateral alitrunk and extremely reduced ventral spongiform strip on the petiole.

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

Nomenclature

 *  tethys. Pyramica tethys Bolton, 2000: 406 (w.) NEW GUINEA. Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 129

Worker
Holotype. TL 1.9, HL 0.52, HW 0.42, CI 80, ML 0.11, MI 21, SL 0.24, SI 57, PW 0.28, AL 0.48. Apicoscrobal and pronotal humeral hairs more or less straight, blunted to weakly remiform apically. Dorsum of head with a transverse row of 4 standing hairs close to the occipital margin, and with a pair of similar hairs just in front of the highest point of the vertex. Eye with 4 ommatidia in the longest row. Reticulate-punctate sculpture of cephalic dorsum fine and dense, almost granulate. Dorsal alitrunk finely reticulate-punctate as head. In profile side of pronotum with fine oblique costulate sculpture, not reticulate-punctate. Katepisternum smooth and shining, remainder of side of alitrunk shallowly longitudinally costulate and with some weak punctures. Mesonotum with a single pair of stout standing hairs dorsally. Similar but somewhat shorter hairs also present on dorsum of petiole node (1 pair), disc of postpetiole (3 pairs) and first gastral tergite where they are numerous. Ventral spongiform strip of petiole reduced to a carina-like vestige below peduncle. In profile the height of the anterior face of the petiole node greater than the length of its dorsum (excluding the posterior collar). Lateral spongiform lobe of petiole very small, reduced to a narrow flange at the termination of the posterior collar. In dorsal view the petiole node disc nearly twice broader than long (length 0.08, width 0.14), roughly transversely rectangular in outline. Disc of postpetiole in dorsal view large and very broad, twice broader than long (length 0.12, width 0.25), smooth and shining dorsally but with vestiges of sculpture on the sides.

Paratypes. TL 1.8-2.0, HL 0.50-0.52, HW 0.40-0.42, CI 78-82, ML 0.11-0.12, MI 21-24, SL 0.22-0.24, SI 54-60, PW 0.27-0.30, AL 0.48-0.51 (7 measured). As holotype but eye with 3-4 ommatidia in longest row. On side of alitrunk all specimens have the metapleuron and propodeum distinctly finely longitudinally costulate, but in some there may also be fine punctures between the costulate component.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Papua New Guinea: C. P., Varirata N.P., 550 m., 5.ii.1981 (W. L. Brown).

Paratypes. 7 workers with same data as holotype (MCZ, ).

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.