Nylanderia waelbroecki ( Emery, 1899 )

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 : 25

Nylanderia waelbroecki ( Emery, 1899)

( Figs. 70–72 , 104–106)

Prenolepis waelbroecki Emery, 1899: 496 (queen and male described). 6 syntype males, Kinshasa, D.R. CONGO (MCSN) [examined]. Forel, 1911: 280, worker described; Wheeler, W.M., 1922: 943; Emery, 1925: 218, combination in Paratrechina (Nylanderia) ; LaPolla et al., 2010: 127, combination in Nylanderia .

The worker of this species was described by Forel (1911), but no specimens could be located for examination during this study.

The queen caste is currently unknown for this species.

MALE. Measurements (n = 3): TL: 2.2–2.4; HW: 0.52–0.58; HL: 0.57–0.61; EL: 0.24–0.27; SL: 0.64–0.75; PW: n/a; WL: 0.82–0.94; GL: 0.74–.96

Indices: CI: 90–98; REL: 43–46; SI: 122–130

Overall light brown, with darker brown abdomen; tarsi white to very light yellow, with yellow protrochanter and joints of legs; cuticle smooth and shining, covered with a dense pubescence except along mesopleuron and propodeum. Head with largely suberect macrosetae and a dense layer of pubescence. Scapes surpass posterior margin by about length of first 3–4 funicular segments; scapes with scatted erect macrosetae (SMC = 12–13) and dense layer of pubescence. Compound eyes large (taking up most of lateral margin); ocelli large and raised. Mandibular masticatory margin with prominent apical tooth; basal margin rounded, but distinct. Mesosoma with dense pubescence and scattered erect setae (PMC = 0–1; MMC = 15–19) dorsally; declivity below level of mesonotum, smooth and shining; gaster with dense pubescence and scattered erect macrosetae of varying heights. Genitalia (figs. 104– 106): parameres rectangular in lateral view; apical margin medially emarginate; cuspi elongated and horn-like; apices of cuspi with finger-like projections directed posteriorly; cuspi peg-like teeth extend from region meeting with digiti to the tips of finger-like projections; digiti distinctly smaller than cuspi, blade-like; digiti with peg-like teeth on thin margin that meets cuspi.

Notes. Despite the fact that the worker caste of this species was described by Forel (1911), we have been unable to locate worker specimens to describe here. The male of this species has very unusually shaped digiti and cuspi (see introduction). The horn-like cuspi are particularly noteworthy and unusual for the genus. Based on the overall shape of the cuspi and digiti N. jaegerskioeldi and N. waelbroecki appear to be closely related. It is possible that workers presently treated as N. jaegerskioeldi in West Africa are in fact N. waelbroecki .

Figures

FIGURES 61 – 72. Afrotropical Nylanderia species in various views: usambarica (worker, 61 – 63, CASENT 0235343, Tanzania); vaga (worker, 64 – 66, CASENT 0104253, U. S. A.); vividula (worker, 67 – 69, CASENT 0103260, U. S. A.); waelbroecki (male, 70 – 72, USNMENT 00693679, D. R. Congo)