Strumigenys nambao 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 : 666

Strumigenys nambao Fisher sp. n. (Fig. 395)

HOLOTYPE WORKER. TL 2.8, HL 0.69, HW 0.56, CI 82, ML 0.38, MI 55, SL 0.46, SI 81, PW 0.32, AL 0.71. Characters of lysis-complex. Each mandible with 2 preapical teeth, situated in the apical third; proximal preapical tooth much longer than distal. Upper scrobe margin without a projecting lamellate rim throughout its length; scrobe margin weakly marginate to rounded above vertical preocular groove on side of head. Eye small, convex and plainly visible in full-face view; maximum diameter of eye less than maximum width of scape. Scape short, more or less straight, widest in the midsection; hairs on leading edge fine, slightly thickened apically. Cephalic dorsum densely clothed with short curved narrowly clavate ground-pilosity; upper scrobe margin fringed with appressed clavate hairs. Cephalic dorsum with 6 stout standing hairs arranged in a transverse row close to the occipital margin; 3 (occasionally 2 or 4) pairs of stiff erect hairs posteriorly on dorsolateral margin, and 1 pair on vertex. Pronotal humeral hair filiform, stiffly projecting; humeral angles rounded. Anterior margin of mesonotum with 1 pair of stout filiform hairs, situated on anterior margin. Propodeum with one pairs of short, fine, posteriorly curved hairs at anterior base of propodeal spines. Alitrunk dorsum with inconspicuous, short curved fine ground-pilosity. Dorsum of alitrunk in outline convex anteriorly, posterior alitrunk more or less flat to gradually sloping down to declivity. Metanotal groove not or minutely impressed. Anterior mesonotum without a minute carina above the mesothoracic spiracle. Propodeal spines narrowly triangular, almost spiniform; lamella on declivity a very narrow strip. Alitrunk dorsum reticulate punctate. Side of pronotum and pleurae partially smooth with peripheral punctulate sculpture. Petiole node in dorsal view about as broad as long. Postpetiole disc reticulate-punctate. In profile ventral spongiform tissue of petiolar peduncle a narrow strip along the base of the peduncle, depth of strip less than the width of the mandible blade when viewed in profile. Ventral spongiform lobe of postpetiole moderately developed. Basigastral costulae short and distinct. Dorsal surface of petiole with one pair of anteriorly projecting stout, narrowly clavate hairs; postpetiole and gaster with stout standing hairs which are thickened apically. Colour light yellowish brown to medium brown.

PARATYPE WORKER TL 2.6 - 2.8, HL 0.64 - 0.68, HW 0.51 - 0.55, CI 79 - 81, ML 0.35 - 0.39, MI 55 - 57, SL 0.42 - 0.49, SI 81 - 90, PW 0.29 - 0.33, AL 0.64 - 0.70 (4 measured). As holotype.

Holotype worker, Madagascar: Prov. Antsiranana, R. S. Manongarivo, 10.8 km. 229 ° SW Antanambao, 400 m., 13 ° 57.7 ' S, 48 ° 26.0 ' E, 8. xi. l 998, sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), rainforest # 1996 (1) - 1 (B. L. Fisher) (MCZ).

Paratypes. 20 workers with same data as holotype but coded (2) - l, (8) - 5, (14) - 1, (30) - 2, (44) - l, (44) - 3, (44) - 5, (46) - 3, (50) - l, (50) - 5; (56) - 2, (75) - 2 (BMNH, SAM).

NON-PARATYP 1 C MATERIAL EXAMINED. Madagascar: R. S. Manongarivo, 12.8 km. 228 ° SW Antanambao, 780 m. (B. L. Fisher).

Measurements of this material extend the range shown by the type-series: HL 0.63 - 0.69, HW 0.52 - 0.57, CI 81 - 83, ML 0.35 - 0.38, MI 55 - 56, SL 0.42 - 0.47, SI 81 - 84 (3 measured).

S. nambao forms a close species pair with norax within the lysis-complex. Characters isolating nambao are discussed under norax .