Nesomyrmex edentatus 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 : 144-145

Nesomyrmex edentatus Csosz & Fisher sp. n. Figs 22-24 , 25 , Table 1

Type material investigated.

Holotype: CASENT0067086, collection code: BLF12553, Forêt d’Analava Mandrisy, 5.9 km 195 ºAntanambe, -16.48567°, 49.847°, alt 10 m, B.L.Fisher et al., 11.13.2005, (1w, CASC, CASENT0067086);

Paratypes: CASENT0004811, 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); CASENT0121563, collection code: BLF15678, Forêt Mandena 8.5 km N Tolagnaro, -24.95267°, 47.0025°, alt 20 m, B.L.Fisher et al., 12.05.2006, (1w, CASC);

Etymology.

The name ( edentatus ) refers to the absence of propodeal teeth in this species.

Diagnosis in key.

Description of workers. Body color: black. Body color pattern: concolorous. Absolute cephalic size: 546 [535, 560]. Cephalic length vs. maximum width of head capsule (CL/CWb): 1.20 [1.19, 1.21]. Postocular distance vs. cephalic length (PoOc/CL): 0.48 [0.47, 0.49]. 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 imbricate, shiny. Setal pits on head dorsum: inconspicuous with obscure demarcation. Gena contour line in frontal view shape: straight. Genae contour from anterior view orientation: converging. Gena sculpture: rugoso-reticulate with areolate ground sculpture. Concentric carinae laterally surrounding antennal foramen: present. Eye length vs. absolute cephalic size (EL/ CS): 0.25 [0.23, 0.26]. Frontal carina distance vs. absolute cephalic size (FRS/CS): 0.30 [0.29, 0.31]. Longitudinal carinae on median region of frons: absent. Smooth median region on frons count: present. Antennomere count: 12. Scape length vs. absolute cephalic size (SL/CS): 0.66 [0.65, 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: imbricate, main sculpture absent. Lateral region of pronotum sculpture: imbricate, 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 [0.20, 0.22]. Dorsal region of petiole sculpture: ground sculpture areolate, main sculpture absent. Postpetiole width vs. absolute cephalic size (PPW/CS): 0.28 [0.27, 0.28]. Dorsal region of postpetiole sculpture: ground sculpture areolate, main sculpture absent. Surface of first gastral tergite: imbricate sculpture absent.

Distribution.

This species is known to occur in the littoral rainforests of eastern coastal Madagascar ( Fig. 25 ). All samples were collected via beating low vegetation.

Figures

Figure 25. Geographic distribution of Nesomyrmex edentatus sp. n .. The known localities of Nesomyrmex edentatus sp. n. in Madagascar.

Figures 22 - 24. Nesomyrmex edentatus sp. n. holotype worker (CASENT 0067086). Head in full-face view (22), dorsal view of the body (23), lateral view of the body (24).