Nesomyrmex punctaticeps Csosz & Fisher sp. n. Figs 38-40, 41, Table 1

Type material investigated.

Holotype: CASENT0418448, collection code: BLF04604, Forêt de Kirindy, 15.5 km 64° ENE Marofandilia, -20.045°, 44.66222°, alt 100 m, Fisher-Griswold Arthropod Team, 11.28.2001, (1w, CASC, CASENT0418448);

Paratypes: four workers from the same locality under CASENT codes: CASENT0418445, collection code: BLF04604, (3w, CASC); CASENT0418446, collection code: BLF04604, (1w, CASC);

Material examined.

MADAGASCAR: CASENT0002644, collection code: BLF06141, Forêt de Beroboka, 5.9 km 131° SE Ankidranoka, -22.23306°, 43.36633°, alt 80 m, Fisher-Griswold Arthropod Team, 03.12.2002, (2w, CASC, CASENT0002644); CASENT0004025, collection code: BLF05637, 6.1 km 182° S Marovato, -25.58167°, 45.295°, alt 20 m, Fisher-Griswold Arthropod Team, 02.14.2002, (1w, CASC); CASENT0156889, collection code: BLF23048, Réserve forestière Beanka, 50.7 km E Maintirano, -17.88021°, 44.46877°, alt 140 m, B .L.Fisher et al., 10.30.2009, (2w, CASC); CASENT0206506, collection code: MG-33-03, Sofia Region,District of Port-Berger, Ambovomamy 20Km N of Port-Berger, Mahajanga, -15.45117°, 47.61333°, alt 86 m, M.F. Rin’ha, 01.21.2007, (1w, CASC); CASENT0447338, collection code: BLF05968, Forêt de Tsinjoriaky, 6.2 km 84° E Tsifota, -22.80222°, 43.42067°, alt 70 m, Fisher-Griswold Arthropod Team, 03.06.2002, (2w, CASC); CASENT0484806, collection code: BLF07511, Parc National de Zombitse, 19.8 km 84° E Sakaraha, -22.84333°, 44.71°, alt 770 m, Fisher, Griswold et al., 02.05.2003, (3w, CASC); MCZENT0576250, Ranomafana National Park, -21.32°, 47.39°, alt 900 m, W.E. Steiner, 01.02.1990, (1w, MCZC);

Etymology.

This name ( punctaticeps) refers to conspicuously foveolate head dorsum of workers of this species.

Diagnosis in key.

Description of workers. Body color: yellow. Body color pattern: concolorous. Absolute cephalic size: 473 [424, 549]. Cephalic length vs. maximum width of head capsule (CL/CWb): 1.20 [1.14, 1.26]. Postocular distance vs. cephalic length (PoOc/CL): 0.49 [0.47, 0.51]. 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: surrounded by conspicuous foveae with well demarcated margins. Diameter of foveae on head dorsum: 10 µm . Gena contour line in frontal view shape: convex. Genae contour from anterior view orientation: converging. Gena sculpture: rugoso-reticulate with areolate ground sculpture. Concentric carinae laterally surrounding antennal foramen count: present. Eye length vs. absolute cephalic size (EL/CS): 0.24 [0.22, 0.26]. Frontal carina distance vs. absolute cephalic size (FRS/CS): 0.33 [0.32, 0.35]. Longitudinal carinae on median region of frons: absent. Smooth median region on frons: present. Antennomere count: 12. Scape length vs. absolute cephalic size (SL/CS): 0.66 [0.62, 0.70]. 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): 0.22 [0.21, 0.24]. Dorsal region of petiole sculpture: ground sculpture areolate, main sculpture absent. Postpetiole width vs. absolute cephalic size (PPW/CS): 0.34 [0.30, 0.36]. Dorsal region of postpetiole sculpture: ground sculpture areolate, main sculpture absent. Surface of the first gastral tergite: incontinuously imbricate.

Distribution.

This species is widely distributed in Madagascar’s tropical dry forests and spiny forests (Fig. 41) in lower elevations between 20-770 m. Only one sample is known to be collected from rainforest of Ranomafana National Park in higher elevation (900 m). The known samples were collected by beating low vegetation.