Simopone vepres, 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 : 39-40

Simopone vepres Bolton & Fisher sp. n.

HOLOTYPE WORKER (paratype in parentheses). HL 0.96 (0.96), HW 0.69 (0.69), SL 0.34 (0.34), EL 0.34 (0.34), PW 0.54 (0.52), AIIW 0.53 (0.49), AIIL 0.50 (0.48), AIIIW 0.65 (0.61), AIIIL 0.60 (0.56), WL 1.18 (1.16), MFL 0.59 (0.60), CI 72 (72), SI 49 (49), EL/HW 0.49 (0.49), EP 0.97 (0.95), AIIW/AIIL 1.06 (1.02), AIIIW/AIIIL 1.08 (1.09) (2 measured).

With head in full-face view the outlines of the outer margins of the eyes conspicuously project beyond the outlines of the sides of the head through at least the median third of their lengths. ES 0.31 and width of head across broadest part of eyes 0.70–0.72; minimum distance between eyes 0.32–0.33. Frontal carinae extend back to level of anterior margins of eyes and are weakly divergent posteriorly. Cephalic dorsum with scattered broad, shallow punctures. Between the eyes, ground sculpture is virtually absent in the holotype; the surface is more or less smooth between the punctures. Cephalic ground sculpture is more obvious between the eyes of the paratype but very weak and superficial, not organised into obvious longitudinal costulae between the punctures. Leading edge of scape with a few setae, inclined toward the scape apex. Sides of head below and behind eyes with projecting short setae, inclined anteriorly. Cephalic dorsum with numerous short, curved setae and with a few pairs of longer setae present; longest setae occur on the frontal carinae and above the eye. Ventral surface of head with short setae. Mesosoma in dorsal view narrowest across the mesonotum (maximum width 0.49–0.51), broadest across the propodeum (maximum width 0.56–0.58). Anterior margin of pronotum weakly, finely carinate. Propodeum with a fine weak carina between dorsum and declivity. Entire dorsum of mesosoma with widely spaced broad, shallow punctures, somewhat less dense on pronotum than elsewhere. Mesopleuron almost smooth, with a few punctures and a distinct transverse sulcus. Propodeal declivity smooth except for a narrow band of superficial sculpture immediately below the dorsal carina. In profile, dorsal surfaces of mesosoma and all abdominal tergites with numerous posteriorly curved setae. Standing setae are sparsely present on middle and hind tibiae. AII (petiole) in dorsal view with a weak transverse carina both anteriorly and posteriorly, the sides convex and divergent posteriorly, broadest just behind the midlength; the width across the anterior margin is less than across the posterior margin. Dorsum of AII with large, shallow punctures whose diameters are usually equal to or greater than the distances that separate them. On tergite of AIII the punctures are of similar size and distribution. AII and AIII both broader than long, AIV distinctly broader than long (width 0.68–0.71, length 0.58–0.60; AIVW/AIVL 1.17–1.18). Head capsule and body glossy brown; scapes and funiculi dull yellow; femora light brown, much lighter than mesosoma; tibiae and tarsi yellow.

Holotype worker (upper specimen of two on pin), Ghana: Tafo, K 2, 26.v.1976, nest in rotten cherelles; prey = brood of Crematogaster (C. Campbell) (BMNH) .

Paratype. One worker mounted below holotype, AIII to apex detached and glued separately on same card triangle ( BMNH) .

Known only from two specimens, this relatively large-eyed species is close to wilburi but separated from it by the characters given in the key. See notes under schoutedeni .