Strumigenys dolabra 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 : 631

Strumigenys dolabra Fisher sp. n.

HOLOTYPE WORKER. TL 1.7, HL 0.40, HW 0.38, CI 94, ML 0.11, MI 28, SL 0.19, SI 50, PW 0.23, AL 0.45. Characters of a / apa-complex. Mandible with a single preapical tooth. Anterolateral margin of clypeus with medially curved spoon-shaped hair that is larger and more conspicuous than hairs found on anterior margin of clypeus. Cephalic dorsum posterior of clypeal margin with spoon-shaped hairs on anterior two thirds; upper scrobe margin with spoon-shaped hairs. Pronotal humeral hair absent; mesonotum without standing hairs. In profile, promesonotal dorsum very shallowly convex anteriorly; propodeal dorsum gradually sloping posteriorly to the declivity and posteriorly meeting the sides in a blunt diverging angle. Propodeal dorsum meeting the declivity in a blunt angle without a noticeable tooth. Ventral spongiform tissue well developed and conspicuous on propodeum, petiole and postpetiole. In profile, spongiform lamella on propodeal declivity broad, approximately half the width of ventral spongiform curtain on petiole. First gastral tergite with few basigastral costulae. Punctulate-reticulate sculpture on tergite restricted to region of basal costulae, remainder of tergite smooth. Hairs on postpetiole and gaster filiform. Color pale brown.

Holotype worker, Madagascar: Prov. Toliara, southern Isoky-Vohimena Forest, 22 O 41 ' S, 44 ° 50 ' E, 730 m., 21. i. 1996, sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), tropical dry forest, # 1312 (5) - 3 (S. Razafimandimby) (MCZ).

Within the arnoldi-group with 6 antennal segments, dolabra and toma are separated from all other members by having the following in combination.

1 Cephalic dorsum without hairs on posterior third which are similar in shape to hairs on leading edge of scape.

2 Pronotal humeri and mesonotum without erect hairs.

3 Base of first gastral tergite with few basal costulae.

4 Propodeum in profile terminating in a blunt angle.

5 Lamella on propodeal declivity broad.

S. dolabra is distinguished from toma as follows.

S. dolabra

1 First gastral tergite with punctulate-reticulate sculpture restricted to region of basal costulae, remainder smooth.

2 In full-face view cephalic dorsum with clavate to spoon-shaped hairs on anterior twothirds, rows of hairs absent from vertex, posterior to apex of upper scrobe margin.

S. toma

1 First gastral tergite covered in punctulate- to granulate-reticulate sculpture, at least on lateral margins posteriorly.

2 In full-face view cephalic dorsum with broadly scale-like to orbicular hairs on anterior two-thirds, extending on to vertex, posterior to apex of upper scrobe margin.