Simopone

Brown, W. L., 1975, Contributions toward a reclassification of the Formicidae. V. Ponerinae, tribes Platythyreini, Cerapachyini, Cylindromyrmecini, Acanthostichini, and Aenictogitini., Search: Agriculture; Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station 15, pp. 1-115 : 35

Simopone

> Simopone Forel, 1891: 139 [[ worker ]]. Type: Simopone grandidieri , monobasic.

> Cerapachys subgenus Simopone : Forel, 1892: 243; also Simopone subgenus Cerapachys , p. 247, lapsus.

> Simopone : Emery, 1911: 15 - 16, pl. 1, fig. 7, [[ worker ]]? [[ male ]], species list.

> Simopone : Arnold, 1915: 19 - 21, diagnosis, 1 S African sp. described.

> Simopone : Santschi, 1923: 259 - 263, 3 C African spp. described.

> Simopone : Taylor, 1965: 1 - 6, review of generic characters, list of spp. ----- 1966: 287 - 290, Indo-Australian spp.

Worker: Distinguished from Cerapachys in all species by the lack of apical spurs on the tibiae of middle legs. Other Simopone characters are the elongate head (2 exceptions) with widely separated frontal carinae forming partial scrobes for the antennal scapes (1 or 2 exceptions), large compound eyes placed at, or in front of, the midlength of the head (1 exception), 11 - merous antennae (1 exception with 12 segments), and toothed tarsal claws (sometimes with an extra tooth or lobe at base of claw). Ocelli frequently present or their pits indicated. The petiole is usually more or less depressed and marginate laterally.

Sculpture varying with the species from smooth and shining to finely reticulate or striolate in part, or with spaced punctures. Pilosity usually sparse, the longer hairs tending to be bilaterally positioned. Color yellow, brown, black or bicolored.

Queen: Unknown for most species; in S. bakeri a normal dealate form exists, with differences from the conspecific worker paralleling those of Cerapachys .

Male: The diagnosis given by Emery (1911: 15) applies only doubtfully to Simopone . In fact, the male caste of this genus has yet to be described from specimens certainly associated with workers or queens.

Larva: The larva of S. conciliatrix (as " Simopone n. sp. ") has only recently been described by G. C. and J. Wheeler, 1974: 103 - 104, fig. 2. It is much like the larvae of Cerapachys but has small mouthparts, including peculiar multidentate mandibles.

distribution: Simopone is widespread but sporadic in the wet, Old World tropics, from Natal in South Africa through Central and East Africa and Madagascar, and in the Indo-Australian region from southeastern Asia to New Guinea and the Philippines. The genus is uncommon in collections, probably because of its predominantly arboreal habitat, and the distribution is probably wider than known at present.

bionomics discussed under the tribal rubric above.