Nesomyrmex cataulacoides (Snelling, 1992)

Garcia, Francisco Hita, Mbanyana, Nokuthula, Audisio, Tracy Lynn & Alpert, Gary D., 2017, Taxonomy of the ant genus Nesomyrmex Wheeler (Formicidae, Myrmicinae) in the Afrotropical region, with a review of current species groups and description of a new species of the N. angulatus group from Mozambique, European Journal of Taxonomy 258, pp. 1-31 : 8

Nesomyrmex cataulacoides species group

Definition

Antennae with 11 segments; anterior clypeal lobe conspicuously convex and rounded, without a small median triangular projection; frontal carinae absent; propodeal spines very well developed, long and spiniform; petiole and postpetiole each with a pair of large and conspicuous lateral spines; all dorsal surfaces of body without standing pilosity.

Comments

The N. cataulacoides species group holds only one morphologically bizarre and extraordinary species, which is impossible to confuse with any other Nesomyrmex species from the Afrotropical or any other region. The 11-segmented antennae, lack of standing pilosity on all dorsal surfaces, and the extreme spinosity render N. cataulacoides immediately recognizable. The possession of spines/teeth on the anterior pronotal corners, the anterior and posterior propodeum, and on both waist segments is unique within the genus. The affinities of N. cataulacoides to other Nesomyrmex are difficult to ascertain, mostly due to the extreme morphological specializations. So far it is not possible to associate it closely with any other Nesomyrmex species or species group. Currently, the species is known only from Cameroon and Kenya. Based on the few collections available, this species is strictly arboreal. The observed disjunctive distribution is most likely a sampling artefact due to the scarcity of collecting in Central African canopies, and we expect that N. cataulacoides will be collected in intermediate countries in the future.