Nesomyrmex punctaticeps 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 : 153-155

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.

Figures

Figure 41. Geographic distribution of Nesomyrmex punctaticeps sp. n .. The known localities of Nesomyrmex punctaticeps sp. n. in Madagascar.

Figures 38 - 40. Nesomyrmex punctaticeps sp. n. holotype worker (CASENT 0418448). Head in full-face view (38), dorsal view of the body (39), lateral view of the body (40).