Carebara madibai Fischer & Azorsa

Fischer, Georg, Azorsa, Frank & Fisher, Brian L., 2014, The ant genus Carebara Westwood (Hymenoptera, Formicidae): synonymisation of Pheidologeton Mayr under Carebara, establishment and revision of the C. polita species group, ZooKeys 438, pp. 57-112 : 74-75

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Formicidae

Carebara madibai Fischer & Azorsa sp. n. Figure 11

Holotype.

(major worker) CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Parc National Dzanga-Ndoki, Mabéa Bai, 21.4 km 53° NE Bayanga, 3.03333, 16.41, 510m, rainforest, 10-17.v.2001 (B.L. Fisher), Collection code BLF4032 (CASC: CASENT0415384).

Paratypes.

(8 major workers and 32 minor workers) 8 major workers, same data as holotype: CASC: CASENT0415383, CASENT0415382, CASENT0709000, CASENT0709001, CASENT0709002, CASENT0709003, CASENT0709004, CASENT0709005. 9 minor workers, same data as holotype: CASC: CASENT0415374, CASENT0415375, CASENT0415381. 23 minor workers with same data as holotype but with different collection number, BLF4000. 2 workers: BMNH: CASENT0405752, CASENT0413423. 2 workers: MCZ: CASENT0413424, CASENT0405761. 19 workers: CASC: CASENT0405759, CASENT0402669, CASENT0405760, CASENT0405750, CASENT0405763, CASENT0405751, CASENT0402683, CASENT0405754, CASENT0402671, CASENT0402672, CASENT0402673, CASENT0405765, CASENT0413325, CASENT0405762, CASENT0405764, CASENT0402674, CASENT0405753, CASENT040681, CASENT0413329.

Diagnosis.

Antennae with nine segments. Major worker: Head almost subrectangular, longer than wide and anteriorly wider than posteriorly, face smooth and shiny and with comparatively large and scattered foveae in frontal view. Head and body with very short, mostly appressed pilosity, lacking long, standing hairs. Minor worker: Posterior margin of head nearly straight, frontal carinae reaching towards posterior quarter of head, dorsum of promesonotum smooth and shiny, propodeal dorsum areolate rugose.

Description of major workers.

Measurements (n=4): HW 1.09-1.13 (1.12), HL 1.19-1.28 (1.23), SL 0.52-0.54 (0.53), MDL 0.60-0.65 (0.63), EL 0.0, WL 1.02-1.07 (1.04), PNH 0.53-0.56 (0.54), PNW 0.55-0.56 (0.56), MNH 0.72-0.75 (0.74), PDH 0.49-0.51 (0.50), PTL 0.51-0.56 (0.54), PPL 0.32-0.33 (0.32), PTH 0.36-0.44 (0.41), PPH 0.31-0.33 (0.32), PTW 0.33-0.36 (0.34), PPW 0.44-0.50 (0.46), PSL 0.15-0.17 (0.16), MFL 0.69-0.74 (0.72), MTL 0.60-0.63 (0.62), CI 88-92 (91), SI 47-48 (47), MDI 55-58 (56), EI 0, FI 63-65 (64), PSLI 13-15 (15), LPpI 100-102 (101), DPpI 138-150 (143), PpWI 130-141 (135), PpLI 58-62 (60), PpHI 73-88 (78).

Head longer than wide (CI 88-92), in full-face view nearly subrectangular, slightly narrowed posteriorly, posterior margin shallowly concave medially, corners rounded, sides of head straight to weakly convex. Mandibles with five teeth. Frontal carinae absent or inconspicuous. Anterior margin of clypeus weakly concave, sides subangulate. Antennae nine-segmented, scapes short, not surpassing cephalic midlength (SI 47-48). Eyes absent.

In profile, promesonotum nearly straight or weakly convex, slightly higher than propodeum. Scutum well-developed, scutellum present, but smaller than scutum. Promesonotal suture present or absent on dorsum, metanotum present as small and reduced sclerite. Dorsal face of propodeum in profile straight, or slightly concave, declining posteriorly, propodeum with anterodorsal corner weakly rounded, posterior corners with a pair of stout and subtriangular teeth, declivity of propodeum vertical, slightly concave in the middle, lamella well–developed and extending from the propodeal teeth to the propodeal lobe, forming a subangulate triangular shape. Propodeal spiracle rounded, situated close to center of lateral propodeum.

Petiole with moderately long peduncle, ventral face concave and posterior margin convex, subpetiolar process relatively large, forward-directed. In profile, petiole node with anterior margin deeply concave in middle, posterior margin vertical, nearly straight to slightly concave, and dorsal face roundly convex. Petiole node high, and well developed, antero-posteriorly compressed. Postpetiole roundly convex, and lower than petiole. In dorsal view, postpetiole almost as wide as petiole (PPW 0.44-0.50, PTW 0.33-0.36), petiole node wider than long, and flattened anteroposteriorly, anterior face of petiole nearly straight, posterior face roundly convex, sides rounded, postpetiole wider than long, anterior face nearly straight and posterior face roundly convex, posterolateral corners convex.

Face, clypeus, mandibles, pronotum and mesonotum smooth and shiny with scattered punctures and widely spaced foveae, each punctum and fovea with small hair. Gena with longitudinal striations and weakly marked reticulations on frontal lobes, mandibles with weak rugulae laterally near the bases. Sculpture on mesosoma consisting of transverse striations at metapleuron, rugosities at the junctions of pronotum, anepisternum, katepisternum and metapleuron, and weak rugae on dorsopropodeum. Petiole node and postpetiole dorsally smooth and shiny, lateroventrally finely areolate. Gaster smooth and shiny, foveolate near the anterodorsal corner, and with weak longitudinal carinae at articulation to postpetiole. Head and body with very short and appressed to subdecumbent pilosity. Scape and tibiae with abundant and appressed pilosity. Color light to reddish brown, gaster, legs and antennae orange to very light brown.

Description of minor workers.

Measurements (n=5): HW 0.33-0.41 (0.38), HL 0.37-0.45 (0.42), SL 0.26-0.29 (0.27), MDL 0.26-0.27 (0.26), EL 0.02-0.02 (0.02), WL 0.38-0.56 (0.45), PNH 0.16-0.20 (0.18), PNW 0.20-0.24 (0.22), MNH 0.22-0.27 (0.25), PDH 0.17-0.20 (0.19), PTL 0.17-0.20 (0.19), PPL 0.12-0.15 (0.14), PTH 0.12-0.14 (0.13), PPH 0.08-0.09 (0.09), PTW 0.05-0.07 (0.07), PPW 0.08-0.11 (0.10), PSL 0.05-0.06 (0.05), MFL 0.26-0.32 (0.30), MTL 0.20-0.26 (0.24), CI 88-92 (90), SI 69-84 (72), MDI 65-82 (70), EI 5-6 (5), FI 76-81 (79), PSLI 11-16 (13), LPpI 165-167 (165), DPpI 67-75 (71), PpWI 142-161 (156), PpLI 72-77 (75), PpHI 63-67 (66).

Head longer than wide (CI 88-92), in full-face view weakly subrectangular, with convex sides, nearly straight posterior head margin and rounded posterolateral corners. Mandibles with five teeth, apical and preapical teeth larger than others. Anterior margin of clypeus medially concave, bicarinate, with a small triangular tooth laterally. Frontal carinae extending beyond midlength of head. Antennae with nine segments, scapes ending before posterior quarter of head (SI 69-84). Eyes present, consisting of one ommatidium (EI 5-6).

In profile, promesonotum weakly convex, slightly more convex posterodorsally, metanotal groove narrow, but deeply impressed. Dorsum of propodeum straight to slightly convex and much shorter than posterior declivity, rounded anteriorly, declining posteriorly towards posterodorsal corners, spines small, acute-triangular, and upwardly directed, declivity of propodeum nearly straight and lamella of propodeal declivity concave medially between the spines and propodeal lobes. Propodeal spiracle situated close to posterolateral border of propodeum.

Petiole in profile with moderately short peduncle, ventral face almost straight or weakly concave at center, anteriorly directed subpetiolar process present, posteroventrally with a pronounced convex corner, petiole dorsum anteriorly concave, petiole node roundly convex. Postpetiole longer than high (LPpI 165-167), lower than petiole (PpHI 63-67), in profile dorsally convex and rounded, ventrally weakly convex. In dorsal view petiole node almost as wide as long, postpetiole almost 1.6 times wider than petiole (PpWI 142-161) with sides tapering anteriorly.

Head smooth and shiny at frons, rugulose at the sides and with scattered punctations except medially on frons, posterior margin of head with carina. Promesonotum, posterior declivity of propodeum, dorsum of petiole and postpetiole, and gaster smooth and shiny, remainder of mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole areolate rugulose. Head, scapes and tibiae with short, decumbent pilosity, mesosoma and metasoma with moderately long subdecumbent to suberect hairs and scattered shorter, decumbent pilosity. Color orange with lighter legs.

Distribution and biology.

Carebara madibai is found in the Central African Republic, Dem. Rep. Congo, Gabon and Uganda, where it was collected from leaf-litter at elevations ranging from 375-680 m. Individuals and nest series were collected from sifted litter, leaf mold and rotten wood.

Comments.

Carebara madibai is the only species of this group with nine-segmented antennae.

Material examined.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Parc National Dzanga-Ndoki, Mabéa Bai, 21.4 km 53° NE Bayanga, 3.03333, 16.41, 510m, rainforest, 10-17.v.2001 (B.L. Fisher); Réserve Spéciale de Forêt Dense de Dzanga Sangha, 12.7 km 326°, 3.005, 16.19333, 420m, rainforest, 10-17.v.2001, (B.L. Fisher); GABON: Woleu Ntem: 31.3 km 108° ESE Minvoul, 2.08, 12.40667, 600m, rainforest 11.ii.1998 (B.L. Fisher); Ogooue-Maritime, Aire d'Exploit. Rationnelle de Faune des Monts Doudou, 24.3 km 307° NW Doussala, -2.22639, 10.40972, 375m, rainforest, 6.iii.2000 (B.L. Fisher); UGANDA: Semuliki NP, 0.84483, 30.15052, 680m, rainforest, 02.viii.2012 (B.L. Fisher et al.).

Etymology.

Named in memory Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (18 July 1918-5 December 2013), who was nicknamed Madiba by his people, former South African president and anti-apartheid revolutionary, often also described as "father of the nation".