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).
Author
Bolton, B.
Author
Fisher, B. L.
text
Zootaxa
2008
1929
1
37
http://hol.osu.edu/reference-full.html?id=22169
journal article
22169
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.
FIGURES
17-24. Full face and lateral view of body. Figs 17-18:
Centromyrmex longiventris
worker CASENT0178742; Figs 19-20:
C. praedator
worker CASENT0102928; Figs 21-22:
C. raptor
holotype worker CASENT0066716; Figs 23-24:
C. raptor
paratype queen CASENT0178746.
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).