Aenictus ugaduwensis, 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 : 76-78

Aenictus ugaduwensis sp. nov.

Zoobank: E07F494D-921D-4AD5-8831-DF1B1A45D0B6

( Figs 59 A–D , 60 )

Holotype worker: • Burkina Faso, Ougadougou 06/09/1970 (Room, P.) (1w) [ NHMUK012849272 ] BMNH.

Paratype workers: • same series, (2 pins, 1w each) [ NHMUK012849270 , NHMUK012849271 ] BMNH .

DIAGNOSIS. Extrapolating information from only four workers is quite daring, especially in this group with a certain degree of polymorphism, but separation from the other species in the complex is feasible. The erect setae separates it from A. jacki sp. nov. and A. congolensis, the lack of propodeal ridge from A. weissi and the much shorter scapes from A. nyuyi sp. nov.

Aenictus ugaduwensis sp. nov. resembles A. rotundatus or A. guineensis in its general aspect, but the head is clearly quadrate, the scapes are much shorter for the same size range (HW~0.7) and mesosoma is also stouter with lower values for WL/PRW.

DESCRIPTION ( Fig. 59 A–D ). WORKER HL: 0.68 [0.65-0.69]; HW: 0.66 [0.65-0.67]; SL: 0.43 [0.41-0.45]; WL: 1.01 [0.94-1.05]; PL: 0.28 [0.26-0.28]; PH: 0.21 [0.21-0.22]; PPL: 0.23 [0.22- 0.23]; PPH: 0.20 [0.20-0.21]; CS: 0.67 [0.65-0.68]; CI: 97 [95-100]; SIL: 63 [62-65]; SIW: 65 [62-68]; WL/HW: 152 [143-159]; PI: 128 [122-133]; PPI: 111 [109-114]; CSR: 103; (n=4).

With the characteristics of the rotundatus species complex and: scapes short, (SL/HL~62). Funicular segments 1-2 slightly longer than wide, enlarging to the apical, which is twice longer than wide. Head quadrate (CI~95–100), convex laterally and widest at the middle. Occipital line straight. Ventrolateral margin absent. Mandibles triangular with a long, sharp apical tooth followed by 4–5 denticles, sometimes eroded seeming edentate. Clypeus a row of conical teeth, clearly visible and longer than wide, decreasing to the sides, sometimes eroded. Frontal ridges present, not projecting frontally and not fused between the antennal sockets.

Pronotum convex, mesopropodeal suture present, concave and meeting the propodeum at an angle. Transverse mesopleural groove absent; propodeal ridge present as a weak dark line, sometimes incomplete laterally; propodeal declivity concave below that line.

Petiole sessile with anterolateral and anterodorsal ridges present, dorsolateral absent. Petiole anteriorly a quarter of ellipse, rounded, and almost vertical posteriorly. Postpetiole subrectangular with rounded angles and vertical anterior and posteriorly faces, without carinae. Subpetiolar process developed with a bulky quarter of ellipse facing forward and a triangular rounded lamellae facing downwards, from straight to shark-fin shaped.

Head, scapes, pronotum, dorsum of mesonotum, dorsopropodeum, postpetiole and gaster glassy smooth; mandibles finely horizontally rugulose, with its apical tooth smooth; mesopleurae and lateropropodeum finely reticulated, lateral sides of petiole and postpetiole alutaceus to reticulated. Overall colour yellowish brown in the type series, brown in the Senegal sample, darker at mesonotum, petiole and postpetiole.

Medium to long decumbent white setae, oriented backwards, present at head, dorsum of pronotum petiole, postpetiole and gaster. Dorsum of propodeum bare. A few scattered, long, white, erect setae present at pronotum, petiole, postpetiole and gaster, longer than petiole height. Scapes with white unequally long decumbent to semierect setae, clearly longer than scape width. No pubescence noted.

DERIVATIO NOMINIS. The species name ugaduwensis is a masculine Latin adjective in the nominative case and refers to the location the ant was collected.

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED. SENEGAL: • Kedougou, Neménick , Niokolo Koba 10 km W ( Niokolo Koba NP ), 13.0764, - 12.78196 01/08-07/11/2018. Winkler (Diallo, A.). Savannah (1w) [ KGCOL00581 ] KGPC.

DISTRIBUTION. West Africa, known from the Sahelian regions in Burkina Faso and Senegal ( Fig. 60 ).

Figures

Fig. 59. Aenictus ugaduwensis sp. nov., holotype (NHMUK012849272). A, head, dorsal view. B, habitus, lateral view. C, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole, lateral view. D, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole, dorsal view.

Fig. 60. Distribution of A. ugaduwensis sp. nov.