Monograph of Nylanderia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the World, Part I: Nylanderia in the Afrotropics
Author
Lapolla, John S.
Author
Hawkes, Peter G.
Author
Fisher, Brian L.
text
Zootaxa
2011
3110
10
36
journal article
45907
10.5281/zenodo.279290
bfde6d67-dd00-40e7-a7de-80fad78042d5
1175-5326
279290
Nylanderia umbella
LaPolla and Fisher
,
sp. nov.
(
Figs. 58–60
,
85
[worker])
Holotype
worker,
CAMEROON
: Mbalmayo,
xi.1993
(N. Stork) (
BMNH
); 3
paratype
workers, same label data as
holotype
(
BMNH
)
Worker diagnosis:
Head width less than
0.51 mm
; head, mesosoma, and gaster dark brown, contrasting sharply with yellowish-brown antennae, mandibles, mesocoxae, metacoxae, and legs; very short, angular, propodeal dorsal face.
Compare with:
N. boltoni
and
N. scintilla
WORKER.
Measurements (n = 3)
: TL: 2.1–2.4; HW: 0.49–0.51; HL: 0.59–0.61; EL: 0.14–0.16; SL: 0.62– 0.64; PW: 0.35–0.38; WL: 0.62–0.69; GL: 0.92–1.2
Indices:
CI: 80–84; REL: 23–27; SI: 123–130
Overall dark brown, with lighter brown to yellow mandibles, antennae, and legs; cuticle smooth and shining; procoxae dark brown, with mesocoxae and metacoxae yellow-brown to yellow in color. Head with a dense layer of pubescence; posterior margin with rounded posterolateral corners, slightly emarginate medially; scapes surpass posterior margin by about the length of the first two funicular segments; scapes with scattered erect macrosetae and a dense layer of pubescence (SMC = 13–16). Mesosoma with erect macrosetae of varying lengths concentrated on posterior pronotum and mesonotum (PMC = 3–5; MMC = 2); layer of pubescence covers mesosomal notum; metanotal area compact; dorsal face of propodeum angular and low (lower than mesonotum) with very short dorsal face and longer declivitous face; propodeum dorsum with pubescence; declivity smooth and shining with no pubescence. Gaster with abundant erect macrosetae and a dense layer of pubescence.
The queen and male castes are currently unknown for this species.
Etymology.
The species epithet
umbella
(L. = shade or shadow) is in reference to the dark brown coloration of this species.
Non-type material.
UGANDA
:
Murchison Falls National Park, Rabongo Forest, 02°15ʹ N, 31°48ʹ E*,
958 m
,
11 July 2009
(W. Freund & T. Klug)
Notes.
This is among the darkest of the Afrotropical species, with strongly contrasting antennae, coxae, and legs. Based on overall similarities in size and shape,
N. umbella
appears closely related to
N. boltoni
and
N. scintilla
.