Nesomyrmex brunneus Csosz & Fisher

Csosz, Sandor & Fisher, Brian L., 2016, Taxonomy of Malagasy Nesomyrmex brevicornis species-group using conventional morphology-based approach, ZooKeys 616, pp. 125-159 : 137-140

Nesomyrmex brunneus Csosz & Fisher sp. n. Figs 14-16 , 17 , Table 1

Type material investigated.

Holotype: CASENT0919844, collection code: ANTC1302, P.N. Masoala, 40 km 154° SSE Maroantsetra, -15.72667°, 49.95667°, alt 150 m, A. Dejean et al., 10.14.2001 (1w, CASC, CASENT0919844);

Paratypes: eight workers and two gynes from the same locality under CASENT codes: CASENT0004957, collection code: ANTC1302, (2w, CASC); CASENT0004958, collection code: ANTC1302, (1Q, CASC); CASENT0004959, collection code: ANTC1302, (1Q, CASC); CASENT0008660, collection code: ANTC1302, (2w, CASC, CASENT0008660); CASENT0008661, collection code: ANTC1302, (2w, CASC); CASENT0008662, collection code: ANTC1302, (2w, CASC);

Material examined.

MADAGASCAR: CASENT0066844, collection code: BLF13087, Ile Sainte Marie, Forêt Kalalao, 9.9 km 34° Ambodifotatra, -16.9225°, 49.88733°, alt 100 m, B.L.Fisher et al., 11.26.2005, (1w, CASC); CASENT0082404, collection code: MA-01-01D-07, Parc National Montagne d’Ambre [Petit Lac road], -12.52028°, 49.17917°, alt 1125 m, R. Harin’Hala, 04.05.2001, (1w, CASC, CASENT0082404); CASENT0083199, collection code: MA-01-01D-09, Parc National Montagne d’Ambre [Petit Lac road], -12.52028°, 49.17917°, alt 1125 m, R. Harin’Hala, 04.26.2001, (1w, CASC); CASENT0107525, collection code: BLF11668, Nosy Be Airport, 10.3 km 30° Hell Ville, -13.32017°, 48.31083°, alt 25 m, B.L.Fisher, 12.11.2004, (1w, CASC, CASENT0107525); CASENT0138300, collection code: BLF20144, Manerinerina, 76.6 km N Antsohihy, -14.10744°, 48.11046°, alt 247 m, B.L.Fisher et al., 04.11.2008, (1w, CASC, CASENT0138300); CASENT0195102, collection code: PSW11939, 9km NNW Ranohira, P.N. Isalo, -22.48333°, 45.38333°, alt 800 m, P.S.Ward, 2.16.1993, (2w, PSWC); CASENT0195103, collection code: PSW11943, 9km NNW Ranohira, P.N. Isalo, -22.48333°, 45.38333°, alt 800 m, P.S.Ward, 02.16.1993, (2w, PSWC); CASENT0418178, collection code: BLF04708, Parc National de Masoala, 39.4 km 150° SSE Maroantsetra, -15.71°, 49.97°, alt 200 m, B.L.Fisher, H.J.Ratsirarson, 11.28.2001, (2w, CASC); CASENT0418217, collection code: BLF04724, Parc National de Masoala, 39.4 km 150° SSE Maroantsetra, -15.71°, 49.97°, alt 200 m, B.L.Fisher, H.J.Ratsirarson, 11.28.2001, (1w, CASC); CASENT0418218, collection code: BLF04723, Parc National de Masoala, 39.4 km 150° SSE Maroantsetra, -15.71°, 49.97°, alt 200 m, B.L.Fisher, H.J.Ratsirarson, 11.28.2001, (1w, CASC); CASENT0418234, collection code: BLF04696, Tampolo, Masoala Peninsula, 40.4 km 154° SSE Maroantsetra, -15.73°, 49.96°, alt 30 m, B.L.Fisher, H.J.Ratsirarson, 11.28.2001, (2w, CASC); CASENT0418244, collection code: BLF04711, Parc National de Masoala, 39.4 km 150° SSE Maroantsetra, -15.71°, 49.97°, alt 200 m, B.L.Fisher, H.J.Ratsirarson, 11.28.2001, (2w, CASC); CASENT0418285, collection code: BLF04710, Parc National de Masoala, 39.4 km 150° SSE Maroantsetra, -15.71°, 49.97°, alt 200 m, B.L.Fisher, H.J.Ratsirarson, 11.28.2001, (2w, CASC); CASENT0428256, collection code: BLF02660, Réserve Spéciale d’Ambre, 3.5 km 235° SW Sakaramy, -12.46889°, 49.24217°, alt 325 m, Fisher, Griswold et al., 01.26.2001, (1w, CASC); CASENT0488569, collection code: BLF06584, Parc National de Namoroka, 16.9 km 317° NW Vilanandro, -16.40667°, 45.31°, alt 100 m, Fisher, Griswold et al., 11.12.2002, (1w, CASC, CASENT0488569); MCZENT0576251 9km NNW Ranohira, P.N. Isalo, -22.48333°, 45.38333°, alt 800 m, P.S.Ward, 02.16.1993, (2w, MCZC); MCZENT0576252, collection code: 11939, 9km NNW Ranohira, P.N. Isalo, -22.48333°, 45.38333°, alt 800 m, P.S.Ward, 02.16.1993, (2w, MCZC); MCZENT0576253, collection code: 11939, 9km NNW Ranohira, P.N. Isalo, -22.48333°, 45.38333°, alt 800 m, P.S.Ward, 02.16.1993, (2w, MCZC).

Etymology.

This name ( brunneus ) refers to the concolorous dark brown appearance of the workers of this species.

Diagnosis in key.

Description of workers. Body color: dark brown; black. Body color pattern: concolorous. Absolute cephalic size: 721 [620, 808]. Cephalic length vs. maximum width of head capsule (CL/CWb): 1.14 [1.09, 1.21]. Postocular distance vs. cephalic length (PoOc/CL): 0.44 [0.39, 0.47]. Postocular sides of cranium contour frontal view orientation: converging posteriorly. Postocular sides of cranium contour frontal view shape: broadly convex. Vertex contour line in frontal view shape: straight. Vertex sculpture: main sculpture absent, ground sculpture absent, smooth and shiny. Setal pits on head dorsum: inconspicuous with obscure demarcation. Gena contour line in frontal view shape: convex. Genae contour from anterior view orientation: converging; strongly converging. Gena sculpture: ground sculpture areolate, main sculpture absent. Concentric carinae laterally surrounding antennal foramen: present. Eye length vs. absolute cephalic size (EL/CS): 0.22 [0.20, 0.24]. Frontal carina distance vs. absolute cephalic size (FRS/CS): 0.33 [0.31, 0.35]. Longitudinal carinae on median region of frons count: absent. Smooth median region on frons: present. Antennomere count: 12. Scape length vs. absolute cephalic size (SL/CS): 0.64 [0.60, 0.67]. Median clypeal notch: present. Ground sculpture of submedian area of clypeus: present. Median carina of clypeus: absent. Metanotal depression: present. Dorsal region of mesosoma sculpture: ground sculpture areolate, main sculpture absent. Lateral region of pronotum sculpture: ground sculpture areolate, main sculpture absent. Mesopleuron sculpture: ground sculpture areolate, main sculpture absent. Metapleuron sculpture: ground sculpture areolate, main sculpture absent. Petiole width vs. absolute cephalic size (PEW/CS): 0.20 [0.19, 0.22]. Dorsal region of petiole sculpture: ground sculpture areolate, main sculpture absent. Postpetiole width vs. absolute cephalic size (PPW/CS): 0.26 [0.24, 0.29]. Dorsal region of postpetiole sculpture: ground sculpture areolate, main sculpture absent. Surface of first gastral tergite: continuously imbricate.

Distribution.

This species occurs predominantly in rainforests of northern Madagascar from 25-800 m. The only southern population is reported from a rain forest of Isalo National Park ( Fig. 17 ). The known samples are collected from canopy: canopy moss and leaf litter or rotten pockets of live branches.

Figures

Figure 17. Geographic distribution of Nesomyrmex brunneus sp. n .. The known localities of Nesomyrmex brunneus sp. n. shown in Madagascar.

Figures 14 - 16. Nesomyrmex brunneus sp. n. holotype worker (CASENT 0919844). Head in full-face view (14), dorsal view of the body (15), lateral view of the body (16).