Nesomyrmex denticulatus( Mayr, 1901 )

Mbanyana, N. & Robertson, H. G., 2008, Review of the ant genus Nesomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) in southern Africa., African Natural History 4, pp. 35-55 : 35

Nesomyrmex denticulatus( Mayr, 1901) Fig. 2d -f

Leptothorax denticulatus Mayr, 1901: 5 . For type information and synonyms see Bolton (1982).

Description of worker

HL 0.828-0.921, HW 0.629-0.757, HW1 0.679-0.795, CI 73-84, SL 0.462-0.580, SI 73-77, PW 0.482-0.590, ML 0.895-1.087, EL 0.177-0.216, EI 26-29 (5 of 61 measured).

Description as in Bolton (1982), but with the following differences: mandibles are described as finely shagreened to virtually smooth but in the material that we observed mandibles can also have fine longitudinal striations.

Diagnosis

Nesomyrmex denticulatus looks similar to N. stramineus in that in both the petiolar node bears denticles from which hairs arise. It is distinguished from the latter species by its larger size (HW 0.629-0.757 versus 0.502-0.525), welldeveloped subpetiolar process, which consists of a tooth anteriorly followed by a long cuticular flange; and larger eyes (EI 26-29 versus 24-27).

Biology

Usually nests in cavities of branches on trees and bushes that were previously excavated by wood-boring beetles or termites. Nests have also been found in cavities at the base of old Protea inflorences that were previously excavated by beetle or lepidopteran larvae. It is found in vegetation of the Western Cape and Eastern Cape that has a woody component, including late succession Fynbos, Succulent Karoo that has large bushes, Southern Afrotemperate Forest(mainly along edges) and possibly also Albany Thicket.

Material examined

South Africa: Eastern Cape: Grahamstown, 33°18'S 26°32'E, in cavity of dead branch, 05 April 1996, L.X. Silberbauer & L. Bennet, SAM-HYM-C009736; Western Cape: Ouberg SePas, 33°42'0"S 20°15'0"E, Succulent Karoo on rocky slope, 28 February 1999, H.G. Robertson, SAM-HYM-C013042; Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, Olifantsbos near Skaife Centre, 34°15.76'S 18°23.13'E,20 m alt., Strandveld Mountain Fynbos ecotone: dense bush, white pitfall, 23 Feb -23 Mar 1998, M.H. Troskie, SAM-HYM-C017281; Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, Olifantsbos near Skaife Centre, 34°15.76'S 18°23.13'E, 20 m alt., Strandveld Mountain Fynbos ecotone: dense bush, yellow pitfall, 23 Feb -23 Mar 1998, M.H. Troskie, SAM-HYM-C017282; Cape Peninsula National Park, Cape of Good Hope sec., near Klaasjagersberg, 1A; 34°14'06"S 18°23'36"E, Regenerated Mesic Mountain Fynbos on flat land after alien clearing using bulldozer (Treatment 1A), pitfall trap, 25 Feb -27 Mar 1999, F. Parker, SAM-HYM-C 017283; Cape Peninsula National Park, Silvermine, 34°05.05'S 18°25.14'E, nest in hollowed out baseofdead Protea repens inflorescence, Mesic Mountain Fynbos, 14 May 1998, G. Eick & H.G. Robertson, SAM-HYM-C015012; Kleinmond, 34°20'0"S 18°59'0"E, 30 September 2000, H.G. Robertson, SAM-HYM-C017822; Brandfontein Reserve, 34°46'S 19°52'E, in cavity of old Protea suzannae inflorescence, Mesic Mountain Fynbos on sandstone,15 August 1992, H.G. Robertson, SAM-HYM-C007230; At foot of Duivelsbos, Marloth Nature Reserve, 33°59'50"S 20°27'50"E, forest along stream, with tiny Monomorium sp. in the same branch, nest in dead branch on tree, on fringe of indigenous evergreen, 09 October 1994, H.G. Robertson, SAM-HYM-C 007519; Fernkloof Nature Reserve, 34°24'S 19°17'E, 14-15 Nov 1992, H.G. Robertson, SAM-HYM-C006428; Brenton-on-sea, 34°04'00"S 23°01'00"E, Fynbos site: nest in cavity of 1.5 cm thick dead branch above ground, 01-07 December1996, H.G.Robertson,SAM-HYM-C009434;Cape Peninsula National Park, Silvermine, 34°05.05'S 18°25.14'E, Nest in hollowed out base of dead Protea repens inflorescence, Mesic Mountain Fynbos, 14 May 1998, H.G. Robertson & G. Eick, SAM-HYM-C015006.