Strumigenys taphra

Known from its type collection, a rainforest litter-sample.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys mnemosyne-group. Easily the largest species yet discovered in the group (HL 0.49-0.52 versus HL 0.38-0.43 in the remainder of the group), taphra is immediately diagnosed by the presence of erect hairs on the clypeal dorsum. Elsewhere in the group the clypeal dorsum bears only minute appressed pubescence. Its lack of cephalic sculpture allies taphra to the Bornean species Strumigenys daspleta, Strumigenys mnemosyne and Strumigenys runa, discussed under mnemosyne.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Thailand.

Nomenclature

 *  taphra. Pyramica taphra Bolton, 2000: 448 (w.) THAILAND. Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 128

Worker
Holotype. TL 1.9, HL 0.49, HW 0.36, CI 73, ML 0.08, MI 16, SL 0.22, SI 61, PW 0.24, AL 0.51. Clypeal dorsum with minute appressed pubescence, its posterior half also with a number of straight erect to suberect simple hairs that average shorter than hairs on the dorsum behind the clypeus. In full-face view the two longest clypeal hairs incline forwards and outwards, and project beyond the lateral clypeal margin. Clypeus smooth; anterior half of head behind clypeus with some weak scattered puntate vestiges, posterior half of head and entirety of body smooth and shining. Leading edge of scape with 2 straight fine hairs that project anterodorsally, at right-angles to the long axis of the scape. Dorsolateral margin of head in full-face view with 8-10 fine curved simple hairs that project laterally, from level of frontal lobe to occipital corner. Cephalic dorsum with many erect simple hairs and with sparse minute simple ground-pilosity. Glandular groove on side of head wide and deep, bounded by sharply defined cuticular margins and extending back to about the level of the anterior margin of the eye. Base of this glandular groove lined with pale granulate cuticle. Occipital margin of head with a thin lamella between the lobes directly above the occipital foramen; without blister-like structures on the posterior margins of the lobes. Dorsal surfaces of alitrunk and first gastral tergite with numerous erect simple hairs that are acute apically. Petiole node in dorsal view only fractionally broader than long. Katepistemum with a long anteriorly directed free cuticular spur that almost reaches the posteroventral corner of the pronotal side. Ventral spongiform curtain of petiole deepest beneath the peduncle, much shallower beneath the node; spongiform lobes of postpetiole massive. Basal face of first gastral sternite deeply concave.

Paratypes. TL 1.9-2.0, HL 0.49-0.52, HW 0.35-0.37, CI 70-74, ML 0.08-0.09, MI 15-18, SL 0.21-0.23, SI 59-63, PW 0.23-0.25, AL 0.50-0.54 (9 measured). One worker has the eye of two tiny ommatidia.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Thailand: Chiang Mai Prov., Chom Thong, Doi Inthanon, 12.vii.1991, 1700 m., soil berlesate, rainforest, CM 141 (L. Deharveng & A. Bedos).

Paratypes. 14 workers with same data as holotype; 1 worker with same data but CM 153 (MNHN,, ).