Simopone brunnea, Bolton & Fisher, 2012

Bolton, Barry & Fisher, Brian L., 2012, Taxonomy of the cerapachyine ant genera Simopone Forel, Vicinopone gen. n. and Tanipone gen. n. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) 3283, Zootaxa 3283 (1), pp. 1-101 : 20-22

Simopone brunnea Bolton & Fisher sp. n.

( Figs 4–6 )

HOLOTYPE WORKER. HL 0.74, HW 0.46, SL 0.22, EL 0.24, PW 0.34, AIIW 0.34, AIIL 0.36, AIIIW 0.41, AIIIL 0.44, WL 0.86, MFL 0.35, CI 62, SI 48, EL/HW 0.52, EP 0.79, AIIW/AIIL 0.94, AIIIW/AIIIL 0.93.

With head in full-face view the midpoints of the outer margins of the eyes do not interrupt the outlines of the sides of the head. ES 0.20 and minimum distance between eyes 0.18. Frontal lobes raised away from level of clypeus. Frontal carinae extend back to level of anterior margins of eyes and are weakly divergent posteriorly. Cephalic dorsum mostly glossy, with scattered broad, shallow punctures and vestiges of weak longitudinal ground sculpture between the eyes. Leading edge of scape with a few setae, inclined toward the scape apex. Sides of head below and behind eyes with very few, short, inconspicuous projecting setae, inclined anteriorly. Cephalic dorsum with a pair of longer setae close to level of posterior margins of eyes and with a few shorter, curved setae near the posterior margin (some abrasion may have occurred). Mesosoma in dorsal view narrowest across the mesonotum (maximum width 0.34), broadest across the propodeum (maximum width 0.36). Anterior margin of pronotum with a weak transverse carina; promesonotal suture only feebly marked. Propodeum with a fine weak carina between dorsum and declivity. Entire dorsum of mesosoma with widely scattered broad, shallow punctures. Mesopleuron almost smooth, with just 1–2 punctures and a distinct transverse sulcus. In profile, dorsal surfaces of mesosoma and all abdominal tergites with short, posteriorly curved setae that are subdecumbent to decumbent. Middle and hind tibiae with 1–2 standing setae. AII (petiole) in dorsal view with a weak transverse carina both anteriorly and posteriorly; sides of AII extremely feebly convex, almost straight, and very weakly divergent posteriorly so that the width across the anterior margin is slightly less than across the posterior margin. Dorsum of AII with very sparse, minute punctures only. On tergite of AIII the punctures are also minute and very widely spaced, so that the distances between them are much greater then their diameters. AII fractionally longer than broad, AIII longer than broad, AIV slightly broader than long. Head capsule and entire body glossy dark brown; antennae and legs somewhat lighter.

Holotype worker, Gabon: Prov. Ogoové-Maritime, Rés. Monts Doudou, 24.3 km 307° NW Doussala , 350 m., 6–7.iii.2000, Malaise trap, GA00M38, coastal lowland rainforest, forest margin along river, CASENT0004504 ( S. van Noort ) ( CASC).

Tentatively included as brunnea are two other specimens. The first has the same data as the holotype but is dated 10-11.iii.2000 (CASENT 0004506). It is somewhat larger than the holotype, HL 0.80, HW 0.51, SL 0.24, EL 0.26, PW 0.38, AIIW 0.38, AIIL 0.39, AIIIW 0.45, AIIIL 0.49, WL 0.90, MFL 0.40, CI 64, SI 47, EL/HW 0.51, EP 0.76, AIIW/AIIL 0.98, AIIIW/AIIIL 0.92. This specimen is almost blackish brown and the punctures on tergite AIII are somewhat larger than in the holotype, though not as large, nor appearing foveolate, as is the case elsewhere in the group. Both this specimen and the holotype were discovered in Malaise traps in coastal lowland rainforest. It is assumed that both these workers represent a single species as it is unlikely, but not impossible, that two almost identical species would be found in the same locality, under the same circumstances, just a few days apart. The second specimen is the now lost worker from the Democratic Republic of Congo, noted below. This resembles the holotype very closely and is similar in size and sculpture, but lighter brown. HL 0.72, HW 0.47, SL 0.22, EL 0.22, PW 0.34, AIIW 0.34, AIIL 0.34, AIIIW 0.42, AIIIL 0.44, WL 0.84, MFL 0.34, CI 65, SI 47, EL/HW 0.47, EP 0.79, AIIW/AIIL 1.00, AIIIW/AIIIL 0.95. Both are retained as brunnea here, until more material accumulates and some idea of the natural variation of the species can be determined. See also the notes under the determination of the schoutedeni group and the notes under schoutedeni , below.

Note. The specimen initially labelled as holotype for this species was lost in the post before the manuscript was submitted. Its full data, in case the specimen should eventually be recovered, is: Democratic Republic of Congo (“ Congo Belge ” on label): Epulu, 4.1.1949 (J.C. Bradley) ANTWEB. CASENT0173050 (property of MCZC). The specimen is damaged: right funiculus is missing, right eye is crushed into the head capsule, with a fracture behind it, and tergite of AIV is split longitudinally. Because the disappearance occurred before the manuscript was completed, holotype status was transferred to the CASC specimen noted above .

Non-paratypic material examined. Gabon: Prov. Ogoové-Maritime, Rés. Monts Doudou, NW Doussala ( S. van Noort ); Democratic Republic of Congo: Epulu (J.C. Bradley).

Figures

FIGURES 4–6. Lateral, full face and dorsal view of body. Simopone brunnea worker CASENT0004504.