Pristomyrmex africanus Karavaiev

Bolton, B., 1981, A revision of six minor genera of Myrmicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Ethiopian zoogeographical region., Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology 43, pp. 245-307 : 284

Pristomyrmex africanus Karavaiev (Fig. 34)

Pristomyrmex africanus Karavaiev , 1931: 47, fig. 5. Holotype worker, Kenya: Mabira, no. 5322 (Dogiel & Sokolov) (ZM, Kiev) [examined].

Hylidris myersi Weber , 1941: 190, figs 8, 9. Syntype workers, Sudan: Equatoria, Aloma Plateau, Khor Aba, 3700 ft [1290 m], 10. viii. 1939, no. 1470, 1474 (N. A. Weber) (BMNH; MCZ, Cambridge) [examined]. Syn. n.

Hylidris myersi subsp. mbomu Weber , 1952: 19. Holotype worker, Central African Republic: UbangiShari, Bas Mbomu, 5 miles [8 km] W. of Bangassau, 12. iii. 1948, no. 2210 (N. A. Weber) (AMNH, New York) [examined]. Syn. n.

Hylidris myersi subsp. primus Weber , 1952: 19. Holotype worker, Zaire: Stanleyville [Kisangani], 19. iii. 1948, no. 2235 (N. A. Weber) (AMNH, New York) [examined]. Syn. n.

Hylidris myersi subsp. beni Weber , 1952: 20. Syntype workers, Zaire: 15 miles [24 km] N. of Beni, 25. ii. 1948, no. 2129 (N. A. Weber) (AMNH, New York; MCZ, Cambridge) [examined]. Syn. n.

Worker. TL 2.7 - 3.4, HL 0.70 - 0.90, HW 0.68 - 0.92, CI 97 - 104, SL 0.62 - 0.86, SI 85 - 94, PW 0.46 - 0.60, AL 0.68 - 0.92 (20 measured).

Base of mandible with 1 - 2 fairly strong rugulae present; frequently these fade out distally but in a few they may extend to the apical margin. Apical (masticatory) margin with a strong apical and preapical tooth followed by a diastema and a broad basal tooth formed by the fusion of two basal denticles. Frequently this broad basal tooth shows two points but these are often worn down and only a single blunt prominence remains. Clypeus usually with a median longitudinal carina but this is variously reduced or lost in different samples. Anterior clypeal margin with a median denticle and 1 - 2 pairs on each side of it, sometimes the lateral pairs not strongly developed. Frontal carinae present, running back to or beyond the level of the posterior margins of the eyes and strongly divergent in their anterior halves. Strongly developed scrobes absent but sides of head between frontal carinae and eyes slightly concave and forming an unsculptured scrobal area. Maximum diameter of eye 0.09 - 0.12, about 0.12 - 0.15 x HW and with 4 - 5 ommatidia in the longest row. With the head in full-face view the occipital margin broadly and shallowly concave to conspicuously indented medially, the sides convex. With the alitrunk in profile the pronotum armed with a pair of acute triangular teeth or short spines; propodeum armed with a pair of spines which are somewhat variable in length and thickness. Metapleural lobes prominent and rounded. Petiole and postpetiole in profile rounded, without acute angles. Shape of petiole node variable but generally as in Fig. 34. Dorsum of head between frontal carinae to occipital margin with foveolate punctures present at least from level of eyes backwards. Both intensity of development and number of punctures very variable; at one extreme the punctures are dense, sharply incised and conspicuous whilst at the other extreme the punctures are sparse, shallow and feebly incised. Sides of head in front of, below, and behind eyes also with foveolate punctures, and punctures usually also present at the posterior end of the scrobal area. Alitrunk unsculptured or at most the dorsum with a few feeble rugular traces on the pronotum. Petiole, postpetiole and gaster unsculptured. Mouthparts, ventral surface and dorsum of head with dense fine pilosity, on the dorsum the hairs arising along the line of the frontal carinae longer than those arising between the carinae. Pronotal dorsum with a transverse row of 3 - 4 pairs of hairs anteriorly; mesonotum with 3 - 4 pairs of hairs arising on the lateral margins; propodeum hairless. Petiole, postpetiole and first gastral tergite without hairs but hairs present on apex of gaster. Scapes and tibiae with pubescence, more conspicuous on the former than on the latter. Colour varying from orange-brown to blackish brown, frequently with the gaster darker in shade than the alitrunk and head.

Differentiation of this, the most widely distributed species of this genus, from orbiceps is tabulated under the latter name. P. africanus separates easily from cribrarius as the latter is densely hairy, strongly sculptured, has a palp formula of 4, 3 (as opposed to 1, 3 in africanus ), and has much larger eyes. P. trogor differs from africanus as the former lacks frontal carinae and has longer scapes, a less densely hairy alitrunk and lacks foveolate punctures on the dorsum of the head. The foveolate cephalic sculpture seen in africanus is, however, also present in fossulatus , but in this species the eyes are much larger (0.26 - 0.29 x HW) and the pronotum has only a pair of blunt tubercles, not sharp teeth such as are seen in africanus .

Material examined Ghana: Kibi (D. Leston); Mt Atewa (B. Bolton). Cameroun: Nkoemvon (D. Jackson). Gabon: Plateau d'Ipassa (J. A. Barra). Kenya: 1 25 ' S, 35 10 W [sic] to 1 38 ' S, 35 17 ' E (N. A. Weber). Zaire: Yangambi (M. Maldague). Angola: R. Chicapa. Saurimo (Luna de Carvalho); Dundo (no name); Dundo (Luna de Carvalho), R. Kahingo (Mwaoka); Salazar (P. M. Hammond).