Simopone fulvinodis Santschi

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 : 25-26

Simopone fulvinodis Santschi

Simopone fulvinodis Santschi, 1923: 262 , fig. 1d. Holotype worker, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Kidada , Kitobola, 14–18.ix.1922 (H. Schouteden) (MRAC) [examined].

WORKER. HL 0.86, HW 0.64, SL 0.28, EL 0.28, PW 0.48, AIIW 0.44, AIIL 0.46, AIIIW 0.52, AIIIL 0.59, WL 1.08, MFL 0.52, CI 74, SI 44, EL/HW 0.44, EP 0.88, AIIW/AIIL 0.96, AIIIW/AIIIL 0.88.

With head in full-face view the midpoints of the outer margins of the eyes just graze the outlines of the sides of the head. ES 0.26 and width of head across broadest part of eyes 0.62. Frontal carinae extend back to level of anterior margins of eyes and are weakly divergent posteriorly. Cephalic dorsum with broad, shallow punctures and with weak longitudinal ground sculpture also present between the eyes. Leading edge of scape without setae, but this may be the result of abrasion. Sides of head below and behind eyes without projecting short setae. Cephalic dorsum with a pair of curved setae, located close to level of posterior margins of eyes. Mesosoma in dorsal view narrowest at pro-mesonotal junction (width 0.45), broadest across the propodeum (maximum width 0.50). Anterior margin of pronotum weakly carinate. Propodeum with a fine weak carina between dorsum and declivity. Entire dorsum of mesosoma with broad, shallow punctures, slightly denser on the mesonotum and propodeum than on the pronotum. Mesopleuron with a few shallow punctures and a distinct transverse sulcus. In profile, dorsal surfaces of mesosoma and all abdominal tergites without numerous obvious setae; instead, on the mesosoma there is a single standing pair at the pronotal humeri and tergites of AIII and AIV have a row of short, elevated setae across the posterior margin (the possibility of abrasion must be considered). Standing setae are absent from the middle and hind femora and tibiae. AII (petiole) in dorsal view with a transverse carina both anteriorly and posteriorly; a series of 5–6 short, inconspicuous cuticular ribs extends anteriorly on the median portion of the posterior carina. Sides of AII in dorsal view are extremely feebly convex, almost straight, and gradually diverge posteriorly so that the width across the anterior margin is slightly less than across the posterior margin. Dorsum of AII and AIII with very shallow punctures. On AIV punctures are smaller and not well defined. AII and AIII longer than broad, AIV broader than long (width 0.63, length 0.56). In profile the head capsule and mesosoma dark brown; scapes and funiculi dull yellow; AII and AIII dull yellow, AII darker anteriorly; AIV and AV black; femora light brown; tibiae and tarsi dull yellow.

The striking colour pattern of fulvinodis , still known only from its holotype, renders the species immediately recognisable, not just in the schoutedeni group but throughout the genus. The pilosity of fulvinodis is very reduced by comparison with other members of the group, but the possibility that the holotype may have suffered some abrasion must be borne in mind. See notes under schoutedeni .

Material examined. Democratic Republic of Congo: Kidada, Kitobola (H. Schouteden).