Nesomyrmex braunsi

Nesomyrmex braunsi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Nesomyrmex
Species group:	simoni
Species:	N. braunsi
Binomial name
Nesomyrmex braunsi (Forel, 1912) Specimen Labels

Mbanyana and Robertson (2008) - Specimens have been collected from pitfall, yellow pan, and malaise traps, and by sweeping vegetation, in Nama-Karoo. Nest is in the soil; the entrance is in the open and can have a circle of soil round it.

Identification

A member of the simoni species-group. This large and conspicuous South African species is easily recognized by its large size, unarmed propodeum, lack of hairs on alitrunk and first gastral tergite and depressed propodeal dorsum. The closest related species in sub-Saharan Africa is Nesomyrmex simoni, but here the propodeum is distinctly bidentate. (Bolton 1982)

Keys including this Species

• Key to Afrotropical Nesomyrmex
• Key to Nesomyrmex of southern Africa

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -32.22683° to -33.3°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: South Africa (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.

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.

Castes

Worker

Images from AntWeb

Syntype of Nesomyrmex braunsi. Worker. Specimen code casent0904788. Photographer Z. Lieberman, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by MSNG, Genoa, Italy.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

• braunsi. Dilobocondyla (Tetramyrma) braunsi Forel, 1912m: 767 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA. Forel, 1913a: 122 (pseudogyne); Arnold, 1917: 359 (q.). Combination in Tetramyrma: Forel, 1913a: 122; in Leptothorax: Bolton, 1982: 325; in Nesomyrmex: Bolton, 2003: 272. See also: Mbanyana & Robertson, 2008: 42.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Bolton (1982) - TL 5.2-5.9, HL 1.20-1.36, HW 1.00-1.16, CI 83-86, SL 0.82-0.94, SI 79-83, PW 0.78-0.96, AL 1.44-1.62 (9 measured).

Mandibles finely longitudinally striate, the spaces between striae finely punctulate or shagreened; the striate sculpture sometimes inconspicuous. Median lobe of clypeus prominent, its anterior margin shallowly and evenly convex. Frontal carinae and antennal scrobes absent, the scapes of moderate length (SI above). Maximum diameter of eye 0.28-0.31, about 0.26-0.29 x HW and with 16-18 ommatidia in the longest row. In full-face view the head shaped as in Fig. 10. Alitrunk and pedicel segments in profile as in Fig. 22, the promesonotum evenly convex, the metanotal groove not or only slightly impressed but the propodeal dorsum distinctly depressed below the level of the promesonotum. Propodeum absolutely unarmed, the dorsum rounding evenly into the declivity. In dorsal view the pronotal corners rounded, the promesonotum narrowing posteriorly. Metapleurallobes rounded. Node of petiole in profile massive, with a relatively narrow anterior peduncle which has a dentiform anteroventral process. In dorsal view the petiole node subglobular, slightly broader than long; postpetiole broader than long and broader than the petiole. Dorsum of head longitudinally rugulose with a few cross-meshes, occipitally a weak reticulum may be formed. Sides of head above and behind eyes generally more obviously reticulate than the dorsum. Dorsal alitrunk irregularly rugose, the sculpture quite strong, usually forming a reticulum on the propodeum and anterior pronotum. Petiole and postpetiole irregularly reticulate-rugose. First gastral tergite densely punctulate or shagreened, the sculpture generally strongest basally and usually traces of very fine longitudinal costulae may be seen. A few short inconspicuous erect hairs present on dorsum of head but the dorsal alitrunk, petiole and postpetiole hairless. First gastral tergite without standing hairs but with a short fine appressed sparse pubescence. Appendages without standing hairs. Head and gaster dark brown tinged with red to reddish black; alitrunk and pedicel segments red, the two colours strongly contrasting in fresh specimens.

References

• Arnold, G. 1917. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part III. Myrmicinae. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 14: 271-402 (page 359, queen described)
• Bolton, B. 1982. Afrotropical species of the myrmecine ant genera Cardiocondyla, Leptothorax, Melissotarsus, Messor and Cataulacus (Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology, 46: 307-370. (page 325, Combination in Leptothorax)
• Bolton, B. 2003. Synopsis and Classification of Formicidae. Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 71: 370pp (page 272, Combination in Nesomyrmex)
• Forel, A. 1912n. Descriptions provisoires de genres, sous-genres, et espèces de Formicides des Indes orientales. Rev. Suisse Zool. 20: 761-774 (page 767, worker described)
• Forel, A. 1913a. Fourmis de Rhodesia, etc. récoltées par M. G. Arnold, le Dr. H. Brauns et K. Fikendey. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 57: 108-147 (page 122, pseudogyne described, Combination in Tetramyrma)
• Hita Garcia, F., Mbanyana, N., Audisco, T.L. & Alpert, G.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: 1–31 (DOI:10.5852/ejt.2017.258).
• Huang, Jian-Hua; Chen, Bin; Zhou, Shan-Yi 2004. A new species of the ant genus Leptothorax Mayr (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Hunan, China. Acta Zootaxon. Sin. 29(4): 766-768 (page 767, see also)
• Mbanyana, N. and Robertson, H.G. 2008. Review of the ant genus Nesomyrmex in southern Africa. African Natural History 4: 35-55.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Arnold G. 1917. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part III. Myrmicinae. Annals of the South African Museum. 14: 271-402.
• Forel A. 1912. Descriptions provisoires de genres, sous-genres, et espèces de Formicides des Indes orientales. Rev. Suisse Zool. 20: 761-774.
• Forel A. 1912. Descriptions provisoires de genres, sous-genres, et espèces de Formicides des Indes orientales. Revue Suisse de Zoologie 20: 761-774.
• Forel A. 1913. Fourmis de Rhodesia, etc. récoltées par M. G. Arnold, le Dr. H. Brauns et K. Fikendey. Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique 57: 108-147.
• Hita Garcia F., Mbanyana N., Audisio T. L., and G. D. Alpert. 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: 1–31.