Strumigenys agra 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 : 625-626

Strumigenys agra Fisher sp. n. (Figs 389, 410)

HOLOTYPE WORKER. TL 4.9, HL 1.13, HW 0.76, CI 67, ML 0.69, MI 60, SL 0.92, SI 122, PW 0.45, AL 1.44. Preapical dentition absent. In full-face view the short upper scrobe margin rounds cleanly into the long margin of the occipital lobe without trace of an angle, the two together forming a single evenly curved surface. Dorsum of head evenly rounded into side behind level of eye. Maximum diameter of eye distinctly greater than the maximum width of the scape. Leading edge of the long scape with a row of slender spatulate hairs which are slightly flattened. Cephalic dorsum with scale-like groundpilosity; the upper scrobe margin undefined, without a row of hairs. Cephalic dorsum with 4 simple standing hairs arranged in a transverse row close to the occipital margin. Dorsum of alitrunk without standing hairs. Ground-pilosity on alitrunk as on head. Posterior portion of mesonotum shallowly depressed below level of pronotum; propodeal dorsum concave. Propodeal teeth long, slender and curved anterolaterally; lamella absent from declivity. Alitrunk dorsum and sides reticulate-punctate. Petiole peduncle very long; node in dorsal view reticulate-punctate and much longer than broad. Postpetiole disc reticulate-punctate.

Spongiform appendages of petiole absent; postpetiole without distinct lateral and ventral spongiform lobes. Basigastral costulae fine and superficial; gaster smooth and shiny when clean. Dorsal surface of postpetiole with a pair posteriorly projecting simple hairs, and posterior margin of gastral segments with standing hairs which are simple or very slightly thickened apically. Colour chocolate brown.

PARATYPE WORKERS. TL 4.8 - 5.4, HL 1.24 - 1.35, HW 0.68 - 0.77, CI 53 - 58, ML 0.69 - 0.86, MI 54 - 68, SL 0.85 - 0.95, SI 123 - 133, PW 0.41 - 0.47, AL 1.33 - 1.51. As holotype.

Holotype worker, Madagascar: 6.9 km. NE Ambanizana, 15 ° 34 ' S, 50 ° 00 ' E, 825 m., 2. ix. l 993, sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), rainforest, # 976 (20) - 10 (B. L. Fisher) (MCZ).

Paratypes. 4 workers and 1 queen (dealate) with same data as holotype but coded (28) - 12, (45) - 12, (46) - 13, (49) - 9, (29) - 12 (BMNH, SAM).

S. agra and apios are closely related and are immediately recognizable by the tridentate apical mandibular fork, recurved propodeal spines and absence of spongiform tissue on a cylindrical-shaped petiole. S. agra is distinguished by its larger size, and chocolate brown colour.