Nesomyrmex inye, 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 inye sp. nov.

Fig. 4j -l

Description of worker

Holotype. HL 0.713, HW 0.559, HW1 0.602, CI 78, SL 0.462, SI 83, PW 0.403, ML 0.816, EL 0.236, EI 42.

Mandibles with fine longitudinal striations. Clypeus with longitudinal striations anteriorly, smooth posteriorly with superficial fine reticulate patterning. Anterior clypeal margin convex but slightly pointed medially. Scapes of moderate length (SI 83). Eyes with 12 ommatidia in a longest row. With head in full face view, hind margin shallowly convex. Promesonotum evenly convex in profile. Metanotal groove conspicuously impressed. Dorsum of propodeum shallowly convex in profile; sides of declivity marginate and junction between dorsum and declivity angulate. Metapleural lobes low and rounded. Peduncle with a prominent keel-shaped subpetiolar process. Petiolar node rounded in profile with dorsum poorly defined; junction between anterior face and dorsum more narrowly rounded than between posterior face and dorsum. Postpetiole low and rounded. Head with fine reticulate pattern overlaid by fine longitudinal striations; striations more prominent in the vicinity near the inner margin of the eyes. Promesonotal dorsum with reticulate sculpture aligned in places to form fine longitudinal striations. Metanotal groove with cross-ribs. Posterior portion of the propodeal dorsum and declivity with transverse striations; anterior of dorsum with rugoreticulum. Both nodes with a superficial reticulate pattern. First gastral tergite with a ring of short basal costulae at the base and the remaining part smooth with a faint superficial reticular pattern. Dorsum of head with eight pairs of erect hairs, with underlying sparse pubescence. The venter of head with seven elongate curved hairs. Ventral margin of mandibles with short curved hairs and with one long curved hair at the base. Promesonotal dorsum with six pairs of fine erect hairs. Propodeum with two pairs of fine erect hairs. Petiolar node with four pairs of suberect hairs, postpetiole with five pairs of fine suberect hairs. Gastral tergite and sternite with regularly spaced suberect hairs. Colour uniformly medium brown.

Diagnosis

Nesomyrmex inye is distinguished from the similar-looking N. njengelanga by the long curved hairs that are present on the ventral surface of head (versus straight hairs in N. njengelanga ); promesonotal dorsum with reticulate ground sculpture overlaid by longitudinal rugulae (longitudinal rugulae reduced to a few near the inner margin of eyes in N. inye ); eyes are larger (EI 42 versus 35-40); and the colour which is medium brown (versus yellow).

Biology

One specimen collected in soil, while digging up another ant nest. Vegetation classified as Succulent Karoo: Western Little Karoo ( Mucina & Rutherford 2006).

Etymology

In isi-Xhosa, inye means ‘one ' and this species is so named because there was only one specimen collected.

Material examined

Holotype: South Africa: Western Cape: Ladismith, Rietfontein Farm adjacent to Touwsberg Private Nature Reserve , 33°35'53"S 20°59'57"E, 14 April 2008, N. Mbanyana & H.G. Robertson, SAM-HYM-C019803 .