Nylanderia luteafra LaPolla and Fisher

Lapolla, John S., Hawkes, Peter G. & Fisher, Brian L., 2011, Monograph of Nylanderia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the World, Part I: Nylanderia in the Afrotropics, Zootaxa 3110, pp. 10-36 : 20

Nylanderia luteafra LaPolla and Fisher , sp. nov.

( Figs. 34–36 , 80 [worker])

Holotype worker, GABON: Ogooue-Maritime: Reserve de la Moukalaba-Dougoua, 12.2 km 305 NW Doussala, 02°17'00" S, 010°29'50" E, elev. 110 m, 26.ii.2000 (S. van Noort) ( CASC) (CASENT0179584); 1 paratype worker with same label data as holotype except date: 29.ii.2000; 1 paratype worker with same label data as holotype except coordinates are: 02°17'00" S, 010°29'83" E ( CASC, USNM)

Worker diagnosis: Overall yellow in color with contrasting, darker, erect setae and a conspicuously domed propodeum.

Compare with: N. incallida and N. usambarica

WORKER. Measurements (n = 4): TL: 2.3–2.8; HW: 0.54–0.65; HL: 0.66 = 0.74; EL: 0.13–0.16; SL: 0.83– 0.89; PW: 0.39–0.44; WL: 0.87–1.0; GL:0.81–1.04

Indices: CI: 81–89; REL: 21–22; SI: 137–155

Overall yellow to brownish-yellow, with darker, erect macrosetae across body; cuticle shining, rugulose on head, mesonotum (on some specimens, pronotum is slightly rugulose), and propodeum. Posterior margin of head with rounded posterolateral corners, slightly emarginate medially. Scapes surpass posterior margin by about length of the first 3–3.5 funicular segments; scape with erect setae and abundant appressed to decumbent pubescence (SMC = 24–31). Mesosoma with erect macrosetae of varying lengths (PMC = 2–4; MMC = 2–3); in profile, pronotum with linear rise towards mesonotum; metanotal area elongate; dorsal face of propodeum dome-like, slightly lower to about the same height as mesonotum; dorsal face and declivitous face about the same length. Gaster shining, with abundant erect macrosetae.

The queen and male castes are currently unknown for this species.

Etymology. The species epithet luteafra is a combination of luteus (L. = yellow) and afra (L. = Africa).

Non-type material examined. CAMEROON: Ottotomo, 3°39' N, 11°19' E *, 2 April 1989 (A. Dejean); GABON: Prov. Ogooue-Maritime, Reserve des Monts Doudou, 24.3 km 307° NW Doussala, 2°13.4' S, 10°24.4' E, 375 m, 6 March 2000 (B.L. Fisher); Prov. Ogooue-Maritime, Reserve de la Moukalaba-Dougoua, 12.2 km 305° NW Doussala, 2°17.00' S, 10°29.83' E, 110 m, 26 Feb 2000 (S. van Noort); Prov. Woleu-Ntem, 31.3 km 108° ESE Minvoul, 2°04.8' N, 12°24.4' E, 600 m, 12 Feb 1998 (B.L. Fisher).

Notes. The only species N. luteafra easily might be confused with are N. incallida , which has different mesosomal macrosetae (thinner, lighter, and longer), and N. usambarica , which has a much higher PSC and lacks a domed propodeal dorsum. The darker macrosetae contrast strongly with the yellow cuticle, a character state seen only in one other species, N. usambarica , but these two species can be separated by the characters noted above.

Figures

FIGURES 31 – 45. Afrotropical Nylanderia species in various views: lepida (male, 31 – 33, CASENT 0217337, Gabon); luteafra (worker, 34 – 36, CASENT 0179584, Gabon); mendica (worker, 37 – 39, CASENT 0179590, Gabon); natalensis (worker, 40 – 42, CASENT 0396096; male, 43 – 45, CASENT 0396027; both from South Africa)

FIGURES 73 – 88. Scapes of Afrotropical Nylanderia species (workers only): boltoni (73, CASENT 0179580, Gabon); bourbonica (74, CASENT 0101309, Reunion); brevisetula (75, CASENT 0090304, Central African Republic); impolita (76, CASENT 0179589, Gabon); incallida (77, CASENT 0179576, Ivory Coast); jaegerskioeldi (78, CASENT 0179577, Kenya); lepida (79, CASENT 0179591, Gabon); luteafra (80, CASENT 0179584, Gabon); mendica (81, CASENT 0179590, Gabon); natalensis (82, CASENT 0396096, South Africa); scintilla (83, CASENT 0179579, Ivory Coast); silvula (84, LACMENT 272717, Kenya); umbella (85, CASENT 0179583, Cameroon); usambarica (86, CASENT 0235343, Tanzania); vaga (87, CASENT 0104253, U. S. A); vividula (88, CASENT 0103260, U. S. A.)