Strumigenys lacunosa, Lin, C. C. & Wu, W. J., 1996

Lin, C. C. & Wu, W. J., 1996, Revision of the ant genus Strumigenys Fr. Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Taiwan., Chinese Journal of Entomology 16, pp. 137-152 : 146-147

Strumigenys lacunosa sp. nov. (Figs. 5, 11, 20-24)

Holotype Worker: TL: 2.8 mm. HL: 0.73 mm, HW: 0.58 mm, SL: 0.4 mm, ML: 0,35 mm, FCD: 0.18 mm, PW: 0.40 mm, WL: 0.82 mm, CI: 80, MI: 49, SI: 69, FCI: 32, MSI: 49.

Head as in Figs. 5 and 20, lacunose sculpture, with flocculent hairs on cra- nium; in full face view, dorsolateral borders of head posteriorly with 3 pairs of long flagellate hairs. Mandible hook-like at extreme apex, slender in full face view, external margin convex very shallowly and evenly, internal margin almost straight; preapical teeth of mandible pro- minently spiniform or reduced (Fig. 5); apical fork with 2 spiniform teeth, with an intercalary denticle (Fig. 22). Anterior clypeal margin transverse. Antenna 6-se- gmented, in ratio of 10: 1.5: 1: 1: 2.5: 7 in length from base; scape lacunose, with flagellate hairs; 2nd segment 1.2 X as long as wide; 3rd and 4th segments each shorter than broad; 5th segment 2 X as long as wide; apical segment 3.3 X as long as wide. Eye relatively small, 0.06 mm in maximum diameter, consisting of 13 ommatidia.

Dorsum of- promesonotum with lacu- nose sculpture, and with flocculent hairs and 2 pairs of long flagellate hairs (Fig. 11). Mesopleuron and metapleuron smooth and shining in most part. Propo- deum with lacunose sculpture. Propodeal teeth acute and well developed; lamellae weakly developed.

Petiole peduncle long and node weak- ly developed, with lacunose sculpture and with long flagellate hairs. Spongiform appendages of pedicel segments well devc loped.

First gastral tergite smooth and shi ning with numerous, long flagellate hairs Body reddish brown. Paratype workers: Forty-three para type workers with the following measure ments and indices: TL: 2.80-3.00 mm. HL 0.70-0.75 mm, HW: 0.58-0.60 mm. SL 0.40-0.41 mm. ML: 0.35-0.36 mm. FCD 0.18-0.20 mm. PW: 0.39-0.41 mm. WL: 0.82 0.84 mm, CI: 77-86. MI: 47-51. SI: 67-71 ECI: 30-34, MSI: 46-49.

Paratype females: Two paratyp. females with the following measurement; and indices: TL: 3.36-3.38 mm. HL 0.78-0.82 mm. HW: 0.70-0.72 mm. SL 0.45-0.46 mm. ML: 0.36-0.37 mm. FCD 0.22-0.23 mm. PW: 0.50-0.51 mm. WL: 1.00 1.02 mm. CI: 85-92. MI: 44-47, SI: 63-66 FCI: 31-32. MSI: 50.

General shape of head and mesosoma as shown in Figs. 23-24. Head and antenn- al scapes with lacunose sculpture, floccu- lent hairs on cranium; dorsolateral bo rders of head posteriorly with 3 pairs of long flagellate hairs in full face view Compound eye large. Ocelli relatively large, each with blackened callus.

Mesosoma in profile moderately con- vex dorsally, arching from anteriormost of mesonotum to posteriormost of meta- notum (Fig. 24). Propodeal teeth acute, well developed; lamellae weakly deve- loped. Dorsum of mesosoma with floccu- lent hairs. Long flagellate hairs present on dorsa of mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole and 1st gastral tergite. Body reddish brown.

Holotype: Worker. TAIPEI HSIEN: Chuchih, 26. V.1988, CCL.

Paratypes: NANTOU HSIEN: Chi- tou, 1 female, 32 workers, 29.XI.1992, CCL; Lienhuachih, 1 worker, 31.X.1988, YCS. TAIPEI HSIEN: 1 female, 9 work- ers, 26. V. 1988, CCL (from the same nest as the holotype). TAITUNG HSIEN: Lichia, 1 worker, 29.III.1995, CCL, Type depository: The holotype is preserved in the NTU, and paratypes in NTU and TARI.

Distribution: Taiwan.

Etymology: The name of the new species refers to the lacunose sculptures on the head, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole.

Remarks: This species is easily dis- tinguished from the other known species of the genus by the lacunose sculpture and flocculent hairs on the head, meso- soma, petiole and postpetiole. In different nests this species had 2 mandible-types in the preapical tooth, either spiniform or reduced.