Aenictus koloi, Gómez, 2022

Gómez, Kiko, 2022, A revision of the Afrotropical species of the Dorylinae ant genus Aenictus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) based on the worker caste, Belgian Journal of Entomology 124, pp. 1-86 : 36-38

Aenictus koloi sp. nov.

Zoobank: ABF79652-7538-41BB-AA19-6B5F03008C2A

( Figs 1 B , 20 A–E , 21 )

Holotype worker, IVORY COAST: • Montagnes District, Taï Research Centre ( Taï N. P. ) 200m, 5.83293, -7.34251 10/11/2019. Hand collected (Gómez, K., Kouakou, L.). Primary Forest (1w), Foraging ground [ KGCOL00551 ] BMNH .

Paratype workers, • same data (3w) [ KGCOL00552 ] CASC , (2w) [ KGCOL00553 ] MHNG , (2w) [ KGCOL00554 ] AFRC , (2w) [ KGCOL00555 ] SAMC , (2w) [ KGCOL00556 ] MNHN , (2w) [ KGCOL00557 ] FHGC , (2w) [ KGCOL00558 ] MNHB , (2w) [ KGCOL00559 ] KGPC , (3w) [ KGCOL00571 ] YKPC , (2w) [ KGCOL02108 ] RBINS , (2w) [ KGCOL02109 ] RWAC , (+20w eth) [ KG04028 ] KGPC.

DIAGNOSIS. Aenictus koloi sp. nov. resembles A. xegi sp. nov. in its overall aspect but it’s clearly smaller (HW<0.60 vs. HW>0.68), has less developed reticulation (sometimes becoming alutaceus over the head and femora), and the subpetiolar process is small, its size slightly larger than prora.

DESCRIPTION ( Figs 1 B , 20 A–E ). WORKER. HL: 0.68 [0.63-0.72]; HW: 0.56 [0.53-0.59]; SL: 0.48 [0.45-0.51]; WL: 1.06 [0.95-1.13]; PL: 0.25 [0.23-0.26]; PH: 0.17 [0.16-0.20]; PPL: 0.20 [0.18-0.22]; PPH: 0.16 [0.13-0.19]; CS: 0.62 [0.58-0.65]; CI: 81 [78-84]; SIL: 70 [67-73]; SIW: 86 [81-89]; WL/HW: 188 [177-194]; PI: 142 [129-156]; PPI: 125 [111-149]; CSR: 112; (n=15).

With the characters defined for the koloi group and: funicular segments 1-8 subquadrate, the apical almost three times longer than wide. Head convex laterally, slightly widest at the middle, occipital line straight; ventrolateral margin reaching ventrally half the distance to the mandibular insertions.

Petiole with anterolateral and anterodorsal carina present, dorsolateral carina absent. In lateral view straight anterior face sloping approximately 45 degrees to a flat rounded dome, with a truncated vertical posterior face; postpetiole in lateral view from elliptical to subrectangular and rounded with almost vertical anterior and posterior faces. Subpetiolar process poorly developed, a quarter of ellipse with its vertical line facing forward, the whole subpetiolar process slightly larger than the prora. Sometimes a small lamella can be present.

Whole body including scape, funiculus and legs alutaceus to reticulated, deeper over propodeum, petiole and postpetiole. Gaster glassy smooth. Overall colour brown, with gaster clearly brighter yellowish brown. Metatibial gland yellowish, conspicuous.

Scattered yellowish white semierect to erect setae present everywhere; propodeum bare except adjacent to mesonotum and propodeal ridge, each with a pair of setae. Length of setae about petiole height on average.

DERIVATIO NOMINIS. The species name koloi is Latinized noun in the genitive case, dedicated to Professor Yeo Kolo, for his life dedication to West African ants and his invaluable help and support during my field trip to Taï Forest.

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED. GHANA: • Osiem 16/07/1969 (Leston, D.) (2w) [ NHMUK012849244 , NHMUK012849245 ] BMNH .

DISTRIBUTION. Western Africa, known from Ghana and Ivory Coast ( Fig. 21 ).

Figures

Fig. 1. Mandibular and clypeal shapes for the different species groups. A, gr. rotundatus (Aenictus guineensis, CASENT0876634). B, gr. koloi (Aenictus koloi, sp. nov., KGCOL00552). C, gr. eugenii (Aenictus eugenii, CASENT0235822). D, gr. eugenii (Aenictus mvuvii, sp. nov., CASENT0350555). E, gr. popeyei (Aenictus popeyei, sp. nov., CASENT0810234). F, gr. decolor (Aenictus decolor, CASENT0317077). G, gr. asantei (Aenictus asantei, NHMUK012849241). H, gr. rixator (Aenictus rixator, CASENT0907030).

Fig. 20. Aenictus koloi sp. nov., paratype (KGCOL00552). A, head, dorsal view. B, habitus, lateral view. C, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole, lateral view. D, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole, dorsal view. E, mandibles and clypeus, dorsal view.

Fig. 21. Distribution of A. koloi sp. nov.