Nesomyrmex cingulatus 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 : 140-143

Nesomyrmex cingulatus Csosz & Fisher sp. n. Figs 18-20 , 21 , Table 1

Type material investigated.

Holotype: CASENT0919845, collection code: BLF06205, Parc National de Tsimanampetsotsa, Mitoho Cave, 6.4 km 77° ENE Efoetse, 17.4 km 170° S Beheloka, -24.04722°, 43.75317°, alt 40 m, Fisher-Griswold Arthropod Team, 03.18.2002, (1w, CASC, CASENT0919845);

Paratypes: 22 workers and a gyne from the same locality under CASENT codes: CASENT0455751, collection code: BLF06204, (2w, CASC); CASENT0455757, collection code: BLF06205, (2w, CASC); CASENT0455756, collection code: BLF06205, (3w, CASC); CASENT0455755, collection code: BLF06205, (3w, CASC); CASENT0455759, collection code: BLF06205, (1Q, CASC); CASENT0455750, collection code: BLF06204, (3w, CASC); CASENT0455752, collection code: BLF06204, (3w, CASC); CASENT0455753, collection code: BLF06204, (3w, CASC); CASENT0455754, collection code: BLF06204, (3w, CASC);

Material examined.

MADAGASCAR: CASENT0003993, collection code: BLF05832, Mahafaly Plateau, 6.2 km 74° ENE Itampolo, -24.65361°, 43.99667°, alt 80 m, Fisher-Griswold Arthropod Team, 02.21.2002, (2w, CASC); CASENT0061872, collection code: MA-02-20-12, Tsimelahy - Parcel II, Andohahela National Park, transitional forest, Tulear Province, -24.93683°, 46.62667°, alt 180 m, M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker, R. Harin’Hala, 01.06.2003, (1w, CASC); CASENT0393137, collection code: BLF36793, Anosy Region, Parc National Andohahela, Col de Tanatana, -24.74969°, 46.84949°, alt 400 m, B.L.Fisher, F.A.Esteves et al., 03.09.2015, (1w, CASC); CASENT0418656, collection code: BLF05760, Mahafaly Plateau, 6.2 km 74° ENE Itampolo, -24.65361°, 43.99667°, alt 80 m, Fisher-Griswold Arthropod Team, 02.21.2002, (2w, CASC); CASENT0418658, collection code: BLF05760, Mahafaly Plateau, 6.2 km 74° ENE Itampolo, -24.65361°, 43.99667°, alt 80 m, Fisher-Griswold Arthropod Team, 02.21.2002, (2w, CASC); CASENT0427196, collection code: BLF06256, Parc National de Tsimanampetsotsa, Forêt de Bemanateza, 20.7 km 81° E Efoetse, 23.0 km 131° SE Beheloka, -23.99222°, 43.88067°, alt 90 m, Fisher-Griswold Arthropod Team, 03.22.2002, (1w, CASC); CASENT0427197, collection code: BLF06256, Parc National de Tsimanampetsotsa, Forêt de Bemanateza, 20.7 km 81° E Efoetse, 23.0 km 131° SE Beheloka, -23.99222°, 43.88067°, alt 90 m, Fisher-Griswold Arthropod Team, 03.22.2002, (1w, CASC); CASENT0440935, collection code: BLF06159, Parc National de Tsimanampetsotsa, Mitoho Cave, 6.4 km 77° ENE Efoetse, 17.4 km 170° S Beheloka, -24.04722°, 43.75317°, alt 40 m, Fisher-Griswold Arthropod Team, 03.18.2002, (2w, CASC); CASENT0445101, collection code: BLF06320, Parc National de Tsimanampetsotsa, Forêt de Bemanateza, 20.7 km 81° E Efoetse, 23.0 km 131° SE Beheloka, -23.99222°, 43.88067°, alt 90 m, Fisher-Griswold Arthropod Team, 03.22.2002, (1w, CASC); CASENT0445102, collection code: BLF06320, Parc National de Tsimanampetsotsa, Forêt de Bemanateza, 20.7 km 81° E Efoetse, 23.0 km 131° SE Beheloka, -23.99222°, 43.88067°, alt 90 m, Fisher-Griswold Arthropod Team, 03.22.2002, (1w, CASC); CASENT0445936, collection code: BLF05502, Réserve Spéciale de Cap Sainte Marie, 12.3 km 262° W Marovato, -25.58167°, 45.16833°, alt 200 m, Fisher-Griswold Arthropod Team, 02.11.2002, (2w, CASC); CASENT0449258, collection code: BLF05824, Mahafaly Plateau, 6.2 km 74° ENE Itampolo, -24.65361°, 43.99667°, alt 80 m, Fisher-Griswold Arthropod Team, 02.21.2002, (1w, CASC); CASENT0449268, collection code: BLF05833, Mahafaly Plateau, 6.2 km 74° ENE Itampolo, -24.65361°, 43.99667°, alt 80 m, Fisher-Griswold Arthropod Team, 02.21.2002, (1w, CASC); CASENT0455014, collection code: BLF06240, Parc National de Tsimanampetsotsa, Mitoho Cave, 6.4 km 77° ENE Efoetse, 17.4 km 170° S Beheloka, -24.04722°, 43.75317°, alt 40 m, Fisher-Griswold Arthropod Team, 37333, (2w, CASC); CASENT0455831, collection code: BLF06192, Parc National de Tsimanampetsotsa, Mitoho Cave, 6.4 km 77° ENE Efoetse, 17.4 km 170° S Beheloka, -24.04722°, 43.75317°, alt 40 m, Fisher-Griswold Arthropod Team, 03.18.2002, (2w, CASC);

Etymology.

The name ( cingulatus ) refers to the conspicuous dark brown transversal patch on the first gastral tergite of workers of this species.

Diagnosis in key.

Description of workers. Body color: yellow; brown. Body color pattern: concolorous, first gaster tergite darker. Absolute cephalic size: 459 [419, 515]. Cephalic length vs. maximum width of head capsule (CL/CWb): 1.37 [1.30, 1.45]. Postocular distance vs. cephalic length (PoOc/CL): 0.51 [0.49, 0.52]. 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 areolate. Setal pits on head dorsum: surrounded by conspicuous foveae with well-demarcated margins. Diameter of foveae on head dorsum: 15-20 µm. Gena contour line in frontal view shape: straight. Genae contour from anterior view orientation: converging. Gena sculpture: rugoso-reticulate with areolate ground sculpture; ground sculpture areolate, main sculpture absent. Concentric carinae laterally surrounding antennal foramen: present. Eye length vs. absolute cephalic size (EL/CS): 0.24 [0.22, 0.26]. Frontal carina distance vs. absolute cephalic size (FRS/CS): 0.31 [0.30, 0.33]. Longitudinal carinae on median region of frons: absent. Smooth median region on frons: absent. Antennomere count: 12. Scape length vs. absolute cephalic size (SL/CS): 0.63 [0.60, 0.65]. 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): 0.32 [0.28, 0.35]. Dorsal region of postpetiole sculpture: ground sculpture areolate, main sculpture absent. Surface of first gastral tergite: continuously imbricate.

Distribution.

This species is known to occur in the spiny forests of the southern part of Madagascar from 40-400 m ( Fig. 21 ). The known samples are collected from live stems.

Figures

Figures 21. Geographic distribution of Nesomyrmex cingulatus sp. n .. The known localities of Nesomyrmex cingulatus sp. n. in Madagascar.

Figures 18 - 20. Nesomyrmex cingulatus sp. n. holotype worker (CASENT 0919845). Head in full-face view (18), dorsal view of the body (19), lateral view of the body (20).