Nesomyrmex stramineus (Arnold, 1948)

Figs 2D, 8B, 13B, 20

Limnomyrmex stramineus Arnold, 1948: 223 (w.), South Africa.

Leptothorax stramineus – Brown 1971: 4.

Nesomyrmex stramineus – Bolton 2003: 272 (see also Bolton 1982: 332; Mbanyana & Robertson 2008: 38).

Diagnosis

The following character combination distinguishes N. stramineus from the other species of the group: eyes with 7–9 ommatidia in longest row; in profile mesosomal dorsum with conspicuously impressed metanotal groove; propodeal spines relatively long and thin, several times longer than their basal width; in profile petiolar node high, rectangular nodiform, appearing around twice as high as long; in dorsal view petiolar node laterally denticulate; subpetiolar process without a long cuticular flange running back to the postpetiolar junction; dorsum of propodeum with standing hairs; first gastral tergite with standing hairs evenly distributed throughout.

Diagnostic comments

As pointed out above, N. stramineus is very close to N. denticulatus and N. innocens . For more details on its differentiation from them we refer to the species account of N. innocens .

Biology

Nesomyrmex stramineus was sampled in savannah woodlands and Afromontane forests, where it lives in dead wood on trees (Mbanyana & Robertson 2008).

Distribution

This species occurs only in South Africa and Swaziland. It seems to be rather rare since it is only known from a few collection events.