Strumigenys dentiscapa

Identification
Bolton (2000) 	- This large, stockily-built species falls into the size range of Strumigenys rhea, Strumigenys serradens and Strumigenys serraformis but is not closely related to them as it lacks their specialisations of mandibular and petiolar structure (see there). In reality dentiscapa appears to be an overgrown relative of Strumigenys capitata, Strumigenys pedunculata and Strumigenys theia, but is easily distinguished from them by its size, broad head (CI 97-101, as opposed to a combined CI 80-89 in the other three species), unique scape structure, reduced lateral postpetiolar spongiform lobe, apically upcurved propodeal spines, more numerous cephalic hairs, and a reticulate-punctate rather than costulate postpetiole disc.

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

Nomenclature

 *  dentiscapa. Pyramica dentiscapa Bolton, 2000: 396, fig. 249 (w.q.m.) NEW GUINEA. Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 118

Worker
Holotype. TL 4.4, HL 0.94, HW 0.95, CI 101, ML 0.24, MI 26, SL 0.46, SI 48, PW 0.66, AL 1.26. Basal lamella of mandible low, triangular, smaller than basal tooth and not visible in full-face view when mandibles closed. Basal lamella followed by 7 stout triangular teeth, outer margin of fully closed mandibles shallowly convex. Leading edge of scape, distal of the narrow basal section, expanded into a flattened triangular lobe or tooth that projects anteriorly and bears the longest hair of the leading edge at its apex; distal to this lobe the relatively short scape narrows to its apex. Dorsum of head finely and densely reticulate-punctate everywhere, the vertex also with some fine disorganised rugular sculpture. Apicoscrobal hair short and stout, weakly curved. Cephalic dorsum with two arched transverse rows of short stout standing hairs; a posterior row of 6 close to the occipital margin and an anterior row of 4 just in front of the highest point of the vertex. Ground-pilosity of head of short appressed spatulate hairs. Eye with 7 ommatidia in the longest row. Pronotal humeral hair short and stout. Mesonotum with 2 pairs of stout standing hairs (anterior pair abraded in holotype). Petiole with one pair of hairs, postpetiole with 2 pairs; first gastral tergite with several hairs, the basal ones tending to be weakly clavate apically. Posterior half of mesonotum sloping very steeply to the metanotal groove. Propodeum with a pair of stout triangular teeth, the apices of which are slightly upcurved. Lamella on propodeal declivity vestigial, base of declivity with low but distinct lobes. Petiole node in profile with a distinctly differentiated anterior face that is shorter than the dorsal length of the node. Subpetiolar spongiform strip narrowest anteriorly, terminating in the anterior third of the peduncle length. Postpetiole in profile massively subglobose; exposed area of disc much larger than ventral spongiform lobe. Lateral spongiform lobe of postpetiole very small, little more than a slight expansion of the end of the posterior collar. Petiole node in dorsal view slightly longer than broad, with a shallow median longitudinal impression. Postpetiole in dorsal view massive, broadly anteroposteriorly convex and with spongiform tissue restricted to the posterior margin and posterolateral angles. Alitrunk, petiole and postpetiole predominantly with weakly defined shallow reticulate-punctate sculpture; mesopleuron smooth, promesonotal dorsum with faint disorganised fine rugular traces. Gaster unsculptured, smooth and shining (when clean) except for the short but sharply defined basigastral costulae.

Paratypes. TL 4.3-4.5, HL 0.94-0.98, HW 0.93-0.95, CI 97-101, ML 0.24-0.26, MI 25-27, SL 0.44-0.48, SI 46-51, PW 0.64-0.66, AL 1.18-1.26 (5 measured).

Type Material
Holotype worker, Papua New Guinea: 12 km. SW Telefomin, 5°13'S, 141°35'E, 7.vii.1980, 1600 m., rotten log, montane rainforest, #4718 (P.S. Ward).

Paratypes. 16 workers, 4 queens (3 alate) and 3 males with same data as holotype (ANIC,, , ). (A number of unmounted specimens, including several queens and males, remain in alcohol in ANIC).