Simopone matthiasi Kutter

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 : 32-33

Simopone matthiasi Kutter

Simopone matthiasi Kutter, 1977: 173 , figs 1–6. Holotype queen (dealate), CAMEROUN: Buea , 6.iii.1937, no. 2078, “in meinen Hosen” (H. Kutter) (NHMB) [examined].

QUEEN (dealate gyne). HL 1.01, HW 0.82, SL 0.34, EL 0.35, PW 0.65, AIIW 0.54, AIIL 0.48, AIIIW 0.68, AIIIL 0.69, WL 1.42, MFL 0.66, CI 81, SI 41, EL/HW 0.43, EP 1.20, AIIW/AIIL 1.13, AIIIW/AIIIL 0.99.

Visible anterior margin of clypeus is convex, anterior to and above the clypeo-labral junction, so that the latter is slightly but obviously reflexed. Frontal carinae short, not extending back beyond the level of the posterior point of the frontal triangle, their apices markedly in front of the level of the anterior margins of the eyes; between apex of frontal carina and eye with a line determined by a change of sculpture: antennal fossa much less strongly sculptured than dorsum. Clypeus broad and flat across, the frontal lobes form narrow, convex, subtranslucent flanges on each side. Eyes located at about the cephalic midlength, EP 1.20; in full-face view outer margins of eyes just touch the outlines of the sides; they do not conspicuously interrupt the outlines. Scape with SW/SL 0.47. Leading edge of scape without projecting setae (may be abraded). Cephalic dorsum with a single short seta located just behind level of midlength of eye, and a second, slightly longer, seta at the posterior margin (both missing from left-hand side of holotype). Sides of head in full-face view without projecting setae. Mandibles smooth with scattered small pits. Cephalic dorsum, from level of apices of frontal carinae to level of posterior margins of eyes, with fine and very dense reticulate-punctate sculpture, and also with scattered minute costulae, mainly longitudinal, that appear to be formed by the alignment of puncture margins. Pronotum with a single pair of short setae, close to the humeri; mesosoma otherwise without conspicuous setae. In dorsal view pronotum without a sharp anterior carina and the humeri rounded, not sharply angled. Width of mesonotum across tegulae 0.72; mesoscutum with maximum width 0.66, maximum length 0.48. Dorsum of pronotum, mesoscutum and propodeum punctate, the punctures crowded but with narrow spaces between them; not reticulate. Faint traces of superficial ground sculpture may be present between the punctures. Declivity of propodeum meets the sides and the dorsum in a continuous low carina; declivity with faint superficial reticular patterning, not smooth. Dorsum of AII (petiole) angulate anteriorly, extremely weakly carinate posteriorly; the sides weakly convex and broadest at about the midlength. Posterior corners of AII angulate but not produced into laterally directed teeth; the posterior margin approximately transverse. Anteroventral process of AII a recurved cuticular hook, the space between the apex and base of the hook filled with a cuticular lamella. AII broader than long, AIII about as broad as long, AIV broader than long (width 0.88, length 0.74). Abdominal tergites AII, AIII and AIV with conspicuous pubescence but without standing setae except for a sparse row of short setae on the posterior margins of AIII and AIV; these tergites densely punctate. Pygidial fork short and blunt; lateral margin anterior to fork with only 2–3 small teeth, the first of which is fused to the base of the fork. Middle and hind femora and tibiae with pubescence but without standing setae on any surface. Full adult colour of head and body uniform light brown.

Known only from the very distinctive holotype queen; no workers whose morphology even approaches that of the queen have been discovered.

Material examined: Cameroun: Buea (H. Kutter).