Strumigenys lysis Fisher, 2000

Bolton, B., 2000, The ant tribe Dacetini. With a revision of the Strumigenys species of the Malgasy Region by Brian L. Fisher, and a revision of the Austral epopostrumiform genera by Steven O. Shattuck., Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65, pp. 1-1028 : 664

Strumigenys lysis Fisher sp. n.

HOLOTYPE WORKER. TL 2.9, HL 0.70, HW 0.57, CI 81, ML 0.39, MI 56, SL 0.47, SI 83, PW 0.34, AL 0.73. Characters of lysis-complex. Each mandible with 2 preapical teeth, situated in the apical third; proximal preapical tooth longer than distal. Upper scrobe margin bordered by a narrow laminar rim. Eyes small, convex and plainly visible in fullface view; maximum diameter of eye subequal to maximum width of scape. Scape short, curved near base, widest in the midsection; hairs on leading edge fine, slightly flattened or spoon-shaped apically. Cephalic dorsum densely clothed with short curved narrowly spatulate to flattened scale-like ground-pilosity; upper scrobe margin fringed with curved narrowly spatulate hairs. Cephalic dorsum with 4 stout standing hairs arranged in a transverse row close to the occipital margin and a more anteriorly situated pair on vertex. Dorsum of head reticulate-punctate with superimposed rugulose sculpture on middorsum and occipital angles. Pronotal humeral hair stiffly filiform; humeral angles rounded. Anterior margin of mesonotum with a pair of stout filiform hairs. Propodeum with one pairs of short, fine, posteriorly curved hairs at anterior base of propodeal spines. Alitrunk dorsum with short curved filiform to narrowly spatulate ground-pilosity. Dorsum of alitrunk in outline convex anteriorly, posterior alitrunk more or less flat to gradually sloping down to declivity. Metanotal groove shallowly impressed. Anterior mesonotum without a distinct carina above the mesothoracic spiracle. Propodeal spines narrowly triangular, spongiform apex, subtended by a very narrow lamella on declivity. Pronotum densely punctate with longitudinally striolate to costulate sculpture. Remainder of dorsal alitrunk reticulate-punctate, but in some the striolate or costulate sculpture continues to the propodeum. Pleurae smooth and shiny with peripheral punctures. Petiole node in dorsal view about as broad as long. Postpetiole disc longitudinally striolate on a finely punctulate surface, but in some, the punctulate sculpture is absent or weak. In profile ventral spongiform tissue of petiolar peduncle a well developed strip along the base of the peduncle, depth of strip more or less equal to the width of the mandible blade when viewed in profile and slightly less than maximum width of eye. Ventral spongiform lobe of postpetiole moderately developed. Basigastral costulae short and distinct. Dorsal surface of petiole with one pair of anteriorly projecting narrowly remiform hairs; postpetiole and gaster with stout standing narrowly remiform hairs. Colour light to medium brown.

PARATYPE WORKERS. TL 2.8 - 3.0, HL 0.68 - 0.73, HW 0.54 - 0.60, CI 77 - 88, ML 0.37 - 0.40, MI 53 - 58, SL 0.45 - 0.51, SI 82 - 87, PW 0.32 - 0.36, AL 0.69 - 0.80 (9 measured). As holotype.

Holotype worker, Madagascar: 6.5 km. SSW Befingotra, Res. Anjanaharibe-Sud, 14 ° 45 ' S, 49 ° 30 ' E, 875 m., 19. x. 1994, sifted litter (leaf mold rotten wood), rainforest # 1070 (9) - 14 (B. L. Fisher) (MCZ). Paratypes. 9 workers and 1 queen (dealate) with same data as holotype but coded (3) - 13, (6) - 10, (8) - 10, (10) - 10, (29) - 20, (37) - 6. (BMNH, SAM).

NON-PARATYPIC MATERIAL EXAMINED. Madagascar: 17 km. W Andapa, Res. d'Anjanaharibe-Sud, 875 m. (G. D. Alperi).

Measurements of this material extend the range shown by the type-series: HL 0.67 - 0.74, HW 0.53 - 0.60, CI 79 - 81, ML 0.35 - 0.40, MI 53 - 54, SL 0.45 - 0.49, SI 82 - 85 (2 measured).

S. lysis is easily separated from other members of the lysis-complex by the presence of a projecting laminar rim on upper scrobe margin throughout its length, a single pair of erect hairs on mesonotum, and the dorsolateral margin of the head posteriorly without 2 - 4 stiff erect hairs that are longer than hairs on leading edge of scape.