Centromyrmex longiventris Santschi

Bolton, Barry & Fisher, Brian L., 2008, Afrotropical ants of the ponerine genera Centromyrmex Mayr, Promyopias Santschi gen. rev. and Feroponera gen. n., with a revised key to genera of African Ponerinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 1929, pp. 1-37 : 19-21

Centromyrmex longiventris Santschi stat. n.

( Figs 17–18 )

Centromyrmex sellaris var. longiventris Santschi, 1919: 229 . Syntype worker, CAMEROUN: Victoria (Silvestri) (NHMB) [examined]. Stat. n.

WORKER. TL 3.5–3.6, HL 0.65–0.67, HW 0.65–0.68, CI 98–101, ML 0.38–0.40, MI 59–64, SL 0.48– 0.50, SI 73–74, PW 0.50–0.56, WL 1.06–1.14 (4 measured).

With characters of the genus and the feae group. Head capsule in full-face view usually appears about as long as broad, CI 101 or less. Mandibles smooth with scattered small punctures. Masticatory margin of mandible with 7–10 small, low indistinct teeth, reduced to mere crenulations or even more or less smooth when worn. Basal angle of mandible rounded, usually with a very small basal tooth visible but sometimes indistinct or vestigial, or with a slightly accentuated basal angle. Dorsum of head with scattered punctures on smooth cuticle; on sides of head the punctures denser than on dorsum, and also with weak striation within the antennal fossae and on the sides, especially anteriorly. Metatibia with only normal setae dorsally but its anterior surface, at the apex and approximately opposite the pectinate spur, with two much stouter and sometimes more darkly coloured spiniform seta whose bases are close together. With mesosoma in profile the dorsal outline of the propodeum is abruptly angled downward from the mesonotum, so that its anterior portion forms a steep slope. Petiole node in dorsal view broader than long. Pronotal dorsum, and anterior mesonotum, with a few widely scattered broad, shallow punctures that may be almost effaced. Pronotum dorsally also usually with variable weak oblique or arched faint disorganised sculpture; almost effaced in some specimens. Colour yellow to light brownish yellow.

QUEEN and MALE: unknown.

C. longiventris is closely related to ereptor . Both species superficially resemble small specimens of angolensis , but are easily separated as they have two spiniform setae at the anterior apex of the metatibia, where only one is present in angolensis . C. longiventris and ereptor are best distinguished by size and the shape of the anterior propodeum in profile. The former is smaller and the anterior portion of the propodeum forms a steep slope immediately behind the mesonotum, whereas the latter is larger and the anterior propodeum is only shallowly and gradually sloped from the mesonotum. Only four specimens of this small species are known.

The name longiventris itself is misleading as the gaster here is proportionately no longer than in any other member of the group, but in the syntype examined the gaster is distended, probably from initial storage in alcohol that was too dilute.

Material examined. Cameroun: Victoria (F. Silvestri); Res. Dja (K. Yeo). Gabon: Plateau d’Ipassa (J.A. Barra).

Figures

FIGURES 17 – 24. Full face and lateral view of body. Figs 17 – 18: Centromyrmex longiventris worker CASENT 0178742; Figs 19 – 20: C. praedator worker CASENT 0102928; Figs 21 – 22: C. raptor holotype worker CASENT 0066716; Figs 23 – 24: C. raptor paratype queen CASENT 0178746.