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Simopone vepres
| Simopone vepres | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Dorylinae |
| Genus: | Simopone |
| Species group: | schoutedeni |
| Species: | S. vepres |
| Binomial name | |
| Simopone vepres Bolton & Fisher, 2012
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Known from two workers, these types are labeled as being collected from "nest in rotten cherelles; prey = brood of Crematogaster".
Identification
A member of the schoutedeni species group. Known only from two specimens, this relatively large-eyed species is close to Simopone wilburi but separated from it by the characters given in the key. Also see the identification section of Simopone schoutedeni. (Bolton and Fisher 2012)
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Ghana (type locality).
Distribution based on AntMaps
Distribution based on AntWeb specimens
Check data from AntWeb
Countries Occupied
| Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species. |
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Estimated Abundance
| Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species. |
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Biology
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Castes
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- vepres. Simopone vepres Bolton & Fisher, 2012: 39 (w.) GHANA.
- Type-material: holotype worker, 1 paratype worker.
- Type-locality: holotype Ghana: Tafo (= New Tafo, Eastern Region, Akim District, Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana), K2, 26.v.1976, nest in rotten cherelles; prey = brood of Crematogaster (C. Campbell); paratype with same data.
- Type-depository: BMNH.
- Distribution: Ghana.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Holotype. (paratype in parentheses). HL 0.96 (0.96), HW 0.69 (0.69), SL 0.34 (0.34), EL 0.34 (0.34), PW 0.54 (0.52), AIIW 0.53 (0.49), AIIL 0.50 (0.48), AIIIW 0.65 (0.61), AIIIL 0.60 (0.56), WL 1.18 (1.16), MFL 0.59 (0.60), CI 72 (72), SI 49 (49), EL/HW 0.49 (0.49), EP 0.97 (0.95), AIIW/AIIL 1.06 (1.02), AIIIW/AIIIL 1.08 (1.09) (2 measured).
With head in full-face view the outlines of the outer margins of the eyes conspicuously project beyond the outlines of the sides of the head through at least the median third of their lengths. ES 0.31 and width of head across broadest part of eyes 0.70–0.72; minimum distance between eyes 0.32–0.33. Frontal carinae extend back to level of anterior margins of eyes and are weakly divergent posteriorly. Cephalic dorsum with scattered broad, shallow punctures. Between the eyes, ground sculpture is virtually absent in the holotype; the surface is more or less smooth between the punctures. Cephalic ground sculpture is more obvious between the eyes of the paratype but very weak and superficial, not organised into obvious longitudinal costulae between the punctures. Leading edge of scape with a few setae, inclined toward the scape apex. Sides of head below and behind eyes with projecting short setae, inclined anteriorly. Cephalic dorsum with numerous short, curved setae and with a few pairs of longer setae present; longest setae occur on the frontal carinae and above the eye. Ventral surface of head with short setae. Mesosoma in dorsal view narrowest across the mesonotum (maximum width 0.49–0.51), broadest across the propodeum (maximum width 0.56–0.58). Anterior margin of pronotum weakly, finely carinate. Propodeum with a fine weak carina between dorsum and declivity. Entire dorsum of mesosoma with widely spaced broad, shallow punctures, somewhat less dense on pronotum than elsewhere. Mesopleuron almost smooth, with a few punctures and a distinct transverse sulcus. Propodeal declivity smooth except for a narrow band of superficial sculpture immediately below the dorsal carina. In profile, dorsal surfaces of mesosoma and all abdominal tergites with numerous posteriorly curved setae. Standing setae are sparsely present on middle and hind tibiae. AII (petiole) in dorsal view with a weak transverse carina both anteriorly and posteriorly, the sides convex and divergent posteriorly, broadest just behind the midlength; the width across the anterior margin is less than across the posterior margin. Dorsum of AII with large, shallow punctures whose diameters are usually equal to or greater than the distances that separate them. On tergite of AIII the punctures are of similar size and distribution. AII and AIII both broader than long, AIV distinctly broader than long (width 0.68–0.71, length 0.58–0.60; AIVW/AIVL 1.17–1.18). Head capsule and body glossy brown; scapes and funiculi dull yellow; femora light brown, much lighter than mesosoma; tibiae and tarsi yellow.
Type Material
Holotype worker (upper specimen of two on pin), Ghana: Tafo, K2, 26.v.1976, nest in rotten cherelles; prey = brood of Crematogaster (C. Campbell) (The Natural History Museum). Paratype. One worker mounted below holotype, AIII to apex detached and glued separately on same card triangle (BMNH).