Simopone grandidieri Forel

Bolton, Barry & Fisher, Brian L., 2012, Taxonomy of the cerapachyine ant genera Simopone Forel, Vicinopone gen. n. and Tanipone gen. n. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) 3283, Zootaxa 3283 (1), pp. 1-101 : 53-55

Simopone grandidieri Forel

( Figs 52–54 )

Simopone grandidieri Forel, 1891: 141 , pl. 4, fig. 8. Holotype worker, MADAGASCAR: data label on holotype states, “Madagascar central”; published locality data states, “ Imerina (Sikora) ” (MHNG) [examined].

WORKER. HL 0.83–1.30, HW 0.53–0.92, SL 0.22–0.36, EL 0.26–0.37, PW 0.40–0.68, AIIW 0.42–0.66, AIIL 0.52–0.77, AIIIW 0.48–0.77, AIIIL 0.58–0.86, WL 1.00–1.60, MFL 0.45–0.74, CI 60–75, SI 35–42, EL/HW 0.40– 0.49, EP 0.80–1.00, AIIW/AIIL 0.79–0.87, AIIIW/AIIIL 0.80–0.99 (11 measured).

Palp formula 5,3. Clypeus broadly downcurved anteriorly, more or less vertical above clypeo-labral junction, the latter not strongly reflexed. Frontal carinae widely separated, FcW/HW 0.45–0.54. Eyes located at or just in front of the cephalic midlength, EP 1.00 or less. Antennal fossa broad and in profile extends almost to the anterior margin of the eye but does not form a narrow longitudinal scrobe. Leading edge of scape without projecting setae. In full-face view sides of head without setae. Cephalic dorsum with only a single pair of standing setae, located close to level of posterior margin of eye. Cephalic dorsum with scattered punctures upon a surface that is usually merely pruinose, at most extremely feebly shagreenate but without organised microreticulate ground sculpture. Mesopleuron with a conspicuous transverse sulcus. Pronotum with a single pair of setae, near the humeri; mesonotum and propodeum usually without setae but the former may have a single small pair. In dorsal view the pronotum with a weak transverse carina anteriorly and the propodeum with a poorly defined, low, blunt carina between dorsum and declivity; promesonotal suture feebly present, may be almost effaced, metanotal groove vestigial to absent. Mesotibiae and metatibiae without setae. AII (petiole) with a distinct, strong anterior transverse carina but posteriorly the dorsum rounds evenly down to the foramen, without trace of a carina; in dorsal view the sides of AII diverge posteriorly. Lateral surface of AII tergite with a carina that curves down from the anterior margin and terminates just behind the level of the spiracle. Posterior corners of AII are rounded and do not extend into laterally or posteriorly directed teeth. AII and AIII longer than broad in dorsal view, but AIII only slightly so; AIV broader than long. Sides of AIII in dorsal view usually parallel, but often slightly convex in larger workers. Abdominal tergites from AII to AV often without setae, but each may have a maximum of two pairs. Sternites of AIII to AV with setae present, small and sparse on AIII but more obvious posteriorly. Sternites of AIV and AV always distinctly more setose than their tergites. Dorsal surfaces of mesosoma and abdominal tergites from AII to AIV with sculpture similar to head, but the punctures more sparse and usually smaller than on the head. Full adult colour black, sometimes with extremely weak bluish reflections.

This is the first species ever described in Simopone and one of only two species of the grandidieri group known from Madagascar. Differentiation from the second species, elegans , is noted there. These two species are separated from the remainder of the regional fauna by the characters given in the group diagnoses and the key to species groups.

The workers of grandidieri appear to show size-related variation, perhaps the most obvious example of which is the narrowing of the head as head size decreases. The smallest workers (HW 0.53–0.61) have relatively longer, narrower heads (CI 60–65) than the largest workers (HW 0.78 or more, CI 69–75).

Despite the disparity of locality data between the specimen label and the published information, it is certain that both refer to the same specimen. This is because Forel had only a single specimen to work from and the drawing he made of it, his pl. 4, fig. 8, shows that it was mounted with AII depressed and with a break between AII and AIII, a feature exactly matched by the specimen recorded above as the holotype. The male of this species is known, see under Malagasy males, below.

Material examined. Madagascar: Imerina (Sikora) ; ESE Ranomafana, nr Ifanadiana (P.S. Ward); Ranomafana Nat. Park (G.D. Alpert); RS Kalambatritra, Ampanihy (B.L. Fisher); Antsiranana, Betaolana Forest (B.L. Fisher); Antsiranana, Makirovana Forest (B.L. Fisher); Prov. Fianarantsoa, Forêt Antsirakambiaty (B.L. Fisher) .

Figures

FIGURES 52–54. Lateral, full face and dorsal view of body. Simopone grandidieri worker CASENT0486659.