Axinidris hypoclinoides (Santschi) Snelling, 2007

Snelling, R. R., 2007, A review of the arboreal Afrotropical ant genus Axinidris., Advances in ant systematics (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Homage to E. O. Wilson - 50 years of contributions. (Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 80), pp. 551-579 : 560-561

Axinidris hypoclinoides (Santschi) new combination

Figures 9, 19, 29

Technomyrmex hypoclinoides Santschi, 1919: 89 - 90 ; (w). DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (= Belgian Congo, Avakubi , 6 Jan. (J. Bequaert) ( NHMB) .

Axinidris parvus Shattuck, 1991: 118 ; fig. 35 (w). LIBERIA, Paiata (= Payeta) (J. Bequaert) (MCZC) examined. NEW SYNONYMY (B. Bolton, pers. comm.).

Worker diagnosis. Antennal scape shaft without erect hairs and pronotum (Fig. 19) with 1 pair of long erect hairs and each propodeal spine with 1 long erect hair; head (excluding clypeus) with 2 pairs of erect hairs; medial propodeal carina absent; first tergum with 2 long erect hairs; gena shiny and finely imbricate; head and body yellow.

Worker measurements (mm) (n = 10). HW 0.45 - 0.52; HL 0.53 - 0.62; SL 0.38 - 0.42; EL 0.13 - 0.17; OVD 0.21 - 0.27; PNW 0.31 - 0.35; PPW 0.21 - 0.26; WL 0.72 - 0.78. Indices. CI 81 - 88; CNI 67 - 75; OI 28 - 32; SI 79 - 83.

Worker description. The worker has been adequately described by Shattuck (1991).

Queen and male unknown.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED

I have examined the two type specimens of A. parvus and others from the following localities. GABON, Ogooue Prov., Maritime Res. Mons Doudou ( CASC) ; KENYA, Kakamega Forest, Isecheno and Isiukhu (AKRI, LACM) .

DISCUSSION

The type of Technomyrmex hypoclinoides Santschi was examined by B. Bolton who informed me that it is a senior synonym of A. parvus . Both the new combination and new synonymy should be attributed to Mr. Bolton.

The few additional specimens available somewhat amplify the range of size variation, but otherwise are in good agreement with the type specimens and with Shattuck's original description. The presence of a single pair of relatively long erect hairs on the pronotal disc and a single such hair at the apex of each propodeal spine is an unusual feature shared only with A. bidens , a larger and darker species. Both species are present in the Kakamega forest of Kenya, but A. bidens is encountered much more frequently.

Photomontage images are available at www. antweb. org as Axinidris sp. 1.