Strumigenys levana 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 : 632-633

Strumigenys levana Fisher sp. n.

HOLOTYPE WORKER. TL 1.6, HL 0.37, HW 0.36, CI 95, ML 0.16, MI 43, SL 0.22, SI 62, PW 0.20, AL 0.41. Characters of lutron-complex. Mandible blade narrow, linear, outcurved; without intercalary denticles between the apical fork teeth. Right mandible with a short distal preapical tooth and a spiniform proximal preapical tooth located at about the apical third of the length; left mandible only with the spiniform proximal preapical tooth. Preocular lamina broad, projecting below the antennal insertion. Anterior clypeal margin with broad spoon-shaped hairs directed dorsally. Dorsum of head behind clypeus reticulatepunctate and with numerous broadly scale-like to spoon-shaped hairs on anterior twothirds. Dorsum of head with a transverse row of 4 hairs close to the occipital margin. Upper scrobe margin with a continuous row of scale-like to spoon-shaped hairs; apicoscrobal hair absent. Eye very small, with 3 ommatidia in total and situated just above the ventral scrobe margin. Antenna with 4 segments. Leading edge of scape a dorsoventrally flattened convex lamella with a row of projecting scale-like to spoon-shaped hairs. In profile, the promesonotum slightly convex; propodeal dorsum shallowly convex anteriorly, sloping posteriorly to the declivity. Propodeal teeth very short, mostly incorporated in the lamella, with only a small point projecting. Sides of alitrunk smooth to superficially reticulate-punctate. Pronotal disc with distinct longitudinal costulae and not sculptured as posterior dorsum of head. In between costulae, pronotum smooth or with fine punctulate sculpture; remainder of dorsal alitrunk and at least the upper half of the propodeal declivity reticulate-punctate to alveolate. Pronotal humeral hair absent. Mesonotum with 2 pairs of erect hairs. Ground-pilosity of dorsal alitrunk consisting of scattered small erect hairs. Dorsal surface of petiole node with faint reticulate-punctate sculpture that is almost effaced; the postpetiole glassy smooth. Petiole, postpetiole and gaster with clavate hairs. In profile the petiole with a well developed spongiform lamella. Postpetiole with well developed lateral and ventral spongiform lobes. Base of first gastral tergite with fine costulae radiating on each side of a broad central clear area, remainder of gaster more or less smooth and shiny. Color dull yellow to pale brown.

PARATYPE WORKER TL 1.6 - 1.7, HL 0.38 - 0.39, HW 0.34 - 0.35, CI 88 - 91, ML 0.17 - 0.18, MI 43 - 47, SL 0.21 - 0.23, SI 62 - 66, PW 0.20 - 0.21, AL 0.39 - 0.41 (5 measured). As holotype.

Holotype worker, Madagascar: Prov. Toamasina, F. C. Sandranantitra, 18 ° 02.9 ' S, 49 ° 05.51 E, 450 m. (21 - 24.1999, sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood) # 102 (26) - 3 (H. J. Ratsirarson) (MCZ).

Paratypes. 8 workers with same data as holotype but coded (21) - 1, (20) - 2, (25) - 3, (6) - 3, (8) - 3 (BMNH, SAM).

NON-PARATYPIC MATERIAL EXAMINED. Madagascar: Andranobi, Route d'Andriamena, ca 25 km. W Morarano Sud ca. 1250 m. (A. Peyrieras); F. C. Andriantantely 530 m. (H. J. Ratsirarson).

Measurements of non-paratypic material extend the range shown by the type-series: HL 0.39 - 0.42, HW 0.35 - 0.38, CI 91, ML 0.16 - 0.18, MI 41 - 42, SL 0.24, SI 63 - 68 (2 measured).

S. levana is distinguished from other species in the arnoldi-group by the presence of 4 antennal segments, distinct longitudinal costulae on the pronotal disc, and absence of a pronotal humeral hair.