Axinidris stageri, 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 : 570-571

Axinidris stageri , new species

Figures 10, 20, 30

Worker diagnosis. Apex of scape distinctly surpassing vertex margin; scape and pronotum with numerous erect hairs; medial carina profile elevated and acute at apex, continued down propodeal declivity.

Worker measurements (mm) (n = 3). HL 0.81 - 0.89; HW 0.20 - 0.22; SL 0.68 - 0.76; EL 0.11 - 0.13; OVD 0.28 - 0.34; PNW 0.49 - 0.58; PPW 0.33 - 0.38; WL 0.97 - 1.11. Indices. CI 96 - 98; CNI 5 - 6; OI 25 - 26; SI 87 - 88.

Worker description. Head shiny between dense minute punctures; gena weakly imbricate and with scattered minute punctures; malar area polished and unsculptured. Apex of antennal scape exceeding vertex by more than greatest width of scape. Numerous suberect hairs on head margins in frontal view, especially above eyes; front of head and vertex with numerous short to moderately long suberect and erect hairs; scape shaft with sparse long erect hairs and numerous short suberect hairs.

Pronotal disc shiny and weakly imbricate. Mesonotum shiny, with coarse irregular longitudinal rugae evenly sloping in profile and metanotal spiracle clearly projecting. Mesepisternum shiny, with finer longitudinal rugae. Propodeal dorsum less shiny than pronotum, coarsely imbricate; side shiny and irregularly longitudinally rugose; spiracular tubercle prominent in dorsal view, anterior edge of spiracle moderately elevated so that opening is directed obliquely distad; medial carina sharp, strongly elevated behind and acute in profile, continued ventrad on posterior face; propodeal spines reduced to minute teeth, distance between their apices much less than propodeal width at spiracles. Pronotum (Fig. 20) with 20 + erect hairs; mesonotum and propodeum each with 10 + similar hairs.

Gastral terga subpolished and weakly imbricate; all terga with scattered erect and suberect hairs in addition to sparse appressed pubescence.

Head and body uniformly yellowish red, appendages paler.

Queen and male unknown.

TYPE MATERIAL

Holotype and two paratype workers, TANZANIA, Bunduki, Uluguru Mts., 6 - 15 January 1964 (K. E. Stager), all in LACM .

ETYMOLOGY

This species is dedicated to Dr. Kenneth E. Stager, former Curator of Ornithology at the LACM, in appreciation for the many samples of ants that he collected for me in various parts of the world.

DISCUSSION

This species is easily recognized by the abundance of erect pilosity on the body and appendages and by its reddish color. Morphologically it is most similar to A. tridens , but the medial carina is higher than in available material of that species. Additionally, A. tridens is much less hairy, with no erect hairs on the antennal scapes and the gastral terga.