Nesomyrmex cederbergensis, Mbanyana, N. & Robertson, H. G., 2008

Mbanyana, N. & Robertson, H. G., 2008, Review of the ant genus Nesomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) in southern Africa., African Natural History 4, pp. 35-55 : 35

Nesomyrmex cederbergensis sp. nov.

Fig. 4g -i

Description of worker

Holotype. HL 0.787, HW 0.588, HW1 0.656, CI 75, SL 0.580, SI 99, PW 0.443, ML 0.936, EL 0.207, EI 35.

Mandibles smooth and shining. Clypeus predominantly smooth medially, bordered by longitudinal striations. Anterior clypeal margin convex. Scapes long (SI 99). Eyes with 11 ommatidia in the longest row. Promesonotum in profile evenly convex and metanotal groove conspicuously impressed. Propodeum sloping slightly to a short declivity, which is almost straight. Propodeum armed with pair of short triangular teeth. Metapleural lobes low and rounded. Anterior peduncle with a small rounded subpetiolar process. Petiolar node with anterior, dorsal and posterior faces forming an even convexity in profile. Postpetiole low and rounded. Head dorsum smooth posteriorly and medially, but withafew fine rugulae near the inner marginof the eyes and at the base of the antennae. Pronotum predominantly smooth and shining. Mesonotal dorsum reticulate with a few striations. Propodeal dorsum reticulate-punctate and declivity with transverse rugulae; both nodes also reticulate. First gastral tergite with a ring of a short basal costulae, with the remainder of the tergite smooth and shining. Head dorsum with two longitudinal lines of fine acute hairs running between the frontal lines. The venter of head with five suberect hairs and pubescence present. Promesonotal dorsum with scattered fine hairs, acute apically. Propodeal dorsum with two pairsof fine hairs. Petiolar node with three pairs of fine suberect hairs and postpetiole with pairs of scattered suberect, fine hairs. Gastral tergite and sternite with regularly spaced suberect hairs. Colour uniformly yellow.

Diagnosis

Nesomyrmex cederbergensis is similar in appearance to N. inye , N. njengelanga , N. koebergensis and N. ezantsi - they are all yellow in colour and their petiolar nodes in profile havea rounded posterodorsal angle and the anterodorsal angle either angulate or rounded, with the dorsum convex and not clearly defined. N. cederbergensis is recognized by the smooth and shining dorsum of head, with few longitudinal striations near the inner margin of the eyes whereas the other three species have reticulate sculpture on the dorsum of head, sometimes overlaid by longitudinal rugulae.

Biology

The single specimen of this species was collected from a pitfall in Mountain Fynbos.

Etymology

Named after the Cederberg Mountains, where the holotype was collected.

Material examined

Holotype: South Africa: Western Cape: Cederberg, Mountain Fynbos , 32°20'58"S 19°0'25"E, 08 October 2002, A. Botes, CKOct02-NWP-4.1.6 , SAM-HYM-C019385 .