Nylanderia jaegerskioeldi ( Mayr, 1904 )

Lapolla, John S., Hawkes, Peter G. & Fisher, Brian L., 2011, Monograph of Nylanderia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the World, Part I: Nylanderia in the Afrotropics, Zootaxa 3110, pp. 10-36 : 17-18

Nylanderia jaegerskioeldi ( Mayr, 1904)

( Figs. 16–18 , 78 [worker]; 19–21 [queen]; 22–24, 98–100[male])

Prenolepis jaegerskioeldi Mayr, 1904: 8 (worker described). EGYPT [not examined, depository unknown]. Emery, 1910: 130 (queen and male described); Santschi, 1914: 128, combination in Prenolepis (Nylanderia) ; Emery, 1925: 218, combination in Paratrechina (Nylanderia) ; LaPolla et al., 2010: 127, combination in Nylanderia .

Prenolepis (Nylanderia) jaegerskioeldi var. borcardi Santschi, 1908: 533 . NORTH AFRICA [not examined, depository unknown]. Emery, 1910: 130, junior synonym of jaegerskioeldi (synonymy transferred this study).

Prenolepis traegaordhi Forel, 1904: 14 (worker and male described). 1 syntype worker and 2 syntype males, SUDAN (MHNG) [examined]. Forel, 1915: 348, combination in Prenolepis (Nylanderia) ; Emery, 1925: 218, combination in Paratrechina (Nylanderia) ; LaPolla et al., 2010: 127, combination in Nylanderia . SYN. NOV.

Prenolepis (Nylanderia) weissi Santschi, 1911: 210 (worker described). 19 syntype workers, CONGO: Brazzaville (NHMB) [examined]. Emery, 1925: 218, combination in Paratrechina (Nylanderia) ; LaPolla et al., 2010: 127, combination in Nylanderia . SYN. NOV.

Prenolepis (Nylanderia) jaegerskioeldi var. zelotypa Santschi, 1915: 264 (worker described). Holotype worker, EAST AFRICA (NHMB) [examined]. Santschi, 1919: 238, raised to species; Emery, 1925: 218, combination in Paratrechina (Nylanderia) ; LaPolla et al., 2010: 127, combination in Nylanderia . SYN. NOV.

Paratrechina weissi nimba Bernard, 1953: 258 (worker and queen described). 3 syntype workers, GUINEA: Keoulenta (MNHN) [examined]. LaPolla et al., 2010: 127, combination in Nylanderia . SYN. NOV.

Worker diagnosis: Overall brown, with abundant pubescence on head, anterior portions of pronotum, mesonotum, and gaster.

Compare with: N. natalensis

WORKER. Measurements (n = 6): TL: 1.9–2.6; HW: 0.48–0.7; HL: 0.57–0.76; EL: 0.13–0.18; SL: 0.59–0.82; PW: 0.34–0.47; WL: 0.65–0.88; GL: 0.76–1.04

Indices: CI: 84–94; REL: 23–26; SI: 115–126

Overall yellowish brown, with lighter brown to yellow mandibles, antennae, pronotum, metanotum, and legs; cuticle smooth; coxae usually all the same color, but in some specimens procoxae slightly darker. Body covered in abundant pubescence, especially head, anterior portions of pronotum, mesonotum, and gaster. Head with a dense layer of pubescence; posterolateral corners slightly angular in full-face view, giving the head a subquadrate appearance. Scapes surpass posterior margin by about the length of the first 2–3 funicular segments; scapes with scattered erect macrosetae and a layer of pubescence (SMC = 17–31). Mesosoma with erect macrosetae (PMC = 3–10; MMC = 2–5) and an abundant layer of pubescence, particularly on notum and propodeum; metanotal area compact; propodeum low (lower than mesonotum), with short, angular dorsal face and longer declivitous face; propodeal dorsum with pubescence; declivitous face smooth and shining, without pubescence. Gaster with abundant erect macrosetae and pubescence.

QUEEN. Measurements (n = 2): TL: 4.8–4.9; HW: 0.92–0.94; HL: 0.94–0.96; EL: 0.32–0.36; SL: 0.9–1.0; PW: 1.2–1.3; WL: 1.4–1.6; GL: 2.3–2.4

Indices: CI: 97–98; REL: 35–37; SI: 98–104

As in worker, with modifications expected for caste. Entire body covered in a dense pubescence; eyes large, but not strongly convex, slightly less than half the length of the head lateral margin (SMC = 10–15; PMC = 0–2; MMC = 20–24).

MALE. Measurements (n = 2): TL: 2.5–2.6; HW: 0.63–0.64; HL: 0.64–0.65; EL: 0.25–0.29; SL: 0.78–0.8; PW: 0.61–0.62; WL: 0.71–0.89; GL: 0.96–1.2

Indices: CI: 97–99; REL: 39–45; SI: 120–123

Overall the male of N. jaegerskioeldi is very similar to the male of N. natalensis . N. jaegerskioeldi is overall more pubescent than N. natalensis , but the major distinguishing differences between the males of these two species are found in the genitalia. Genitalia (figs. 98–100): parameres with steeply rounded ventral margin; toward paramere apices, finger-like projections directed dorsally; cuspi large and rectangular with many with peg-like teeth on ental surface where they meet digiti; digiti distinctly smaller than cuspi, blade-like; digiti with peg-like teeth on thin margin that meets cuspi.

Non-type material examined. CANARY ISLANDS ( SPAIN): Tenerife Golf Sur, 28°01'37" N, 16°36'14" W, 593 m, 11 Dec 2002 (X. Espadaler); CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Res. Dzanga-Sangha, 12.7 km, 326° NW Bayanga, 3°00' N, 16°12'E, 370 m, 10–17 May 2001 (B.L. Fisher); PN Dzanga-Ndoki, 21.4 km 53° NE Bayanga, 3°02.01' N 16°24.57'E, 510 m, 6 May 2001 (S. van Noort); Res. Dzanga-Sangha, 12.7 km, 326° NW Bayanga, 3°00.27' N, 16°11.55' E, 420 m, 13 May 2000 (S. van Noort); KENYA: Kakamega District, Kakamega Forest: Isecheno; 0.02° N, 34.97° E, 1800 m, 16 Oct 1999 (coll. R.R. Snelling); Western Province, Mumies, Aug 2008 (G. Fischer); Kakamega District, Kakamega Forest, Isecheno, 0.02° N, 34.97° E, 18 June 2007 (M. Pelers); Magombo Kisii, 0°40.388' S, 34°54.855' E, 1935 m, 3 Nov 1976 (P. Werff)

Notes. This species has perhaps the widest range of any Afrotropical Nylanderia , found across equatorial Africa, northward through North Africa, to as far west as the Canary Islands. It is also apparently the only one that ranges outside of the Afrotropics. Despite the similarity of workers with N. natalensis , males of this species are very distinct and different, and seem to indicate the species is not particularly closely related to N. natalensis . The parameres have unique dorsal, finger-like extensions that display some variation in length. The digiti are reduced and blade-like, with large, paddle-like cuspi that are unlike any other species in the region. See notes for N. natalensis for further discussion on distinguishing these two species.

As conceived here this is a broadly defined species with a range of color, size and setation observed. Despite this, we could find no means morphologically to reliably segregate this variation into distinct species, thus the hetereogenous species defined in this study. This is a good candidate species for containing cryptic species. This species would benefit from further study especially once more specimens are made available for morphological and molecular study. Males are unknown from West African populations and it would certainly be instructive to examine males from this area to help clarify whether or not these are conspecific with eastern and northern populations. We have examined males from both North and East Africa and morphologically they are the same.

Figures

FIGURES 16 – 30. Afrotropical Nylanderia species in various views: jaegerskioeldi (worker, 16 – 18, CASENT 0179587; queen, 19 – 21, USNMENT 00693668; male, 22 – 24, CASENT 0179588; all from Kenya); lepida (worker, 25 – 27, CASENT 0179591, Gabon; queen, 28 – 30, CASENT 0086444, Central African Republic)

FIGURES 73 – 88. Scapes of Afrotropical Nylanderia species (workers only): boltoni (73, CASENT 0179580, Gabon); bourbonica (74, CASENT 0101309, Reunion); brevisetula (75, CASENT 0090304, Central African Republic); impolita (76, CASENT 0179589, Gabon); incallida (77, CASENT 0179576, Ivory Coast); jaegerskioeldi (78, CASENT 0179577, Kenya); lepida (79, CASENT 0179591, Gabon); luteafra (80, CASENT 0179584, Gabon); mendica (81, CASENT 0179590, Gabon); natalensis (82, CASENT 0396096, South Africa); scintilla (83, CASENT 0179579, Ivory Coast); silvula (84, LACMENT 272717, Kenya); umbella (85, CASENT 0179583, Cameroon); usambarica (86, CASENT 0235343, Tanzania); vaga (87, CASENT 0104253, U. S. A); vividula (88, CASENT 0103260, U. S. A.)