Nesomyrmex grisoni ( Forel, 1916 )

Garcia, Francisco Hita, Mbanyana, Nokuthula, Audisio, Tracy Lynn & Alpert, Gary D., 2017, Taxonomy of the ant genus Nesomyrmex Wheeler (Formicidae, Myrmicinae) in the Afrotropical region, with a review of current species groups and description of a new species of the N. angulatus group from Mozambique, European Journal of Taxonomy 258, pp. 1-31 : 19-22

Nesomyrmex grisoni ( Forel, 1916)

Figs 9B , 17

Leptothorax (Goniothorax) grisoni Forel, 1916: 425 (w.q.). D.R. Congo.

Nesomyrmex grisoni – Bolton 2003: 272 (see also Bolton 1982: 329).

Diagnosis

The following character combination distinguishes N. grisoni from the other species of the group: in profile mesosomal dorsum forming a single, uninterrupted flat surface without any trace of metanotal groove; petiolar peduncle short; body colour dark brown to black.

Diagnostic comments

As mentioned above, N. grisoni and N. angulatus are straightforwardly distinguishable from the remainder of the group. At the same time they are morphologically very close to each other and only separable on the basis of body colour. For a more in-depth discussion we refer to the species account of N. angulatus .

Biology

Very little information about the natural history of this species is available. It seems to live on vegetation in rain forest habitats.

Distribution

Nesomyrmex grisoni is only known from the Central African Republic, the D.R. Congo and Ghana.

Figures

Fig. 9. Body in profile. A. Nesomyrmex angulatus (Mayr, 1862) (CASENT0922010). B. N. grisoni (Forel, 1916) (CASENT0908994).

Fig. 17. Nesomyrmex grisoni (Forel, 1916) (CASENT0908994). A. Body in profile view. B. Body in dorsal view. C. Head in full-face view. D. Map of Africa and Madagascar showing currently known distribution.