Strumigenys koningsbergeri-group

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 : 655

koningsbergeri-group

DIAGNOSIS OF WORKER

Apical fork of mandible with 2 spiniform teeth; without intercalary dentition. In full-face view inner margin of distal one-fifth to one-quarter of mandible, immediately proximal of apicodorsal tooth, strongly concave with respect to its previous line. Mandible with a rounded tumulus or a minute denticle at proximal end of concave section of inner margin, but without strong preapical dentition. MI 42 - 50.

Anterior clypeal margin conspicuously and quite deeply broadly, evenly concave.

Scape elongate, subcylindrical, widest just proximal of the midlength. SI 61 - 75.

Eye small and convex, maximum diameter of eye slightly less than maximum width of the scape.

Ventrolateral margin of head in front of eye with a deep and strongly incised preocular notch; notch so strongly incised that anterior portion of eye is detached from side of head. With head in ventral view the preocular notch forms the apex of a transverse impression or trench in the ventral surface of the head capsule that extends toward the midline. This ventral preocular groove is posterior to, and separated from, the marked postbuccal groove.

Scrobe always well developed behind level of eye, with sharply defined dorsal margin and conspicuously deeply concave.

Spongiform appendages of petiole weakly developed, petiole with a narrow ventral curtain.

Postpetiole with small but distinct lateral and ventral spongiform lobes.

Pilosity. All standing hairs short and stiff, simple to remiform; flagellate hairs always absent. Pronotal humeral hair absent. Dorsal (outer) surfaces of middle and hind basitarsi without long erect hairs. Ground-pilosity on dorsum of head spatulate to narrowly spoon-shaped, dilute and inconspicuous.

Sculpture. Dorsal surfaces of head, alitrunk and petiole reticulate-punctate; middorsum of head and pronotal dorsum frequently with longitudinal or oblique rugulae. Side of alitrunk with smooth patches on pleurae. Gaster unsculptured except for basigastral costulae.

Glands. Bullae of glands of scape, femur, tibia, calcar, and tarsomeres not visible.

Mesopleural gland visible and set in a narrow circular notch.

A single Malagasy species, dicomas , is referred to the koningsbergeri-group . The group is large and mainly Malesian-Oriental, with 32 species in those regions. The diagnosis above is adapted to stress the characters of the Malagasy species. The strangely scooped-out shape of the inner mandibular margin just proximal of the apicodorsal tooth, coupled with the dentition, is immediately diagnostic of the koningsbergeri-group in Madagascar.