Nesomyrmex cederbergensis

Nesomyrmex cederbergensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Nesomyrmex
Species group:	simoni
Species:	N. cederbergensis
Binomial name
Nesomyrmex cederbergensis Mbanyana & Robertson, 2008

The single specimen of this species was collected from a pitfall in Mountain Fynbos.

Identification

Mbanyana and Robertson (2008) - A member of the simoni species-group. Similar in appearance to Nesomyrmex inye, Nesomyrmex njengelanga, Nesomyrmex koebergensis and Nesomyrmex ezantsi – they are all yellow in colour and their petiolar nodes in profile have a rounded posterodorsal angle and the anterodorsal angle either angulate or rounded, with the dorsum convex and not clearly defined. N. cederbergensis is recognized by the smooth and shining dorsum of head, with few longitudinal striations near the inner margin of the eyes whereas the other three species have reticulate sculpture on the dorsum of head, sometimes overlaid by longitudinal rugulae.

Keys including this Species

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

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -32.34944444° to -32.34947°.

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

Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

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

• cederbergensis. Nesomyrmex cederbergensis Mbanyana & Robertson, 2008: 42, figs. 4g-i (w.) SOUTH AFRICA.

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

Description

Worker

Holotype. HL 0.787, HW 0.588, HW1 0.656, CI 75, SL 0.580, SI 99, PW 0.443, ML 0.936, EL 0.207, EI 35.

Mandibles smooth and shining. Clypeus predominantly smooth medially, bordered by longitudinal striations. Anterior clypeal margin convex. Scapes long (SI 99). Eyes with 11 ommatidia in the longest row. Promesonotum in profile evenly convex and metanotal groove conspicuously impressed. Propodeum sloping slightly to a short declivity, which is almost straight. Propodeum armed with pair of short triangular teeth. Metapleural lobes low and rounded. Anterior peduncle with a small rounded subpetiolar process. Petiolar node with anterior, dorsal and posterior faces forming an even convexity in profile. Postpetiole low and rounded. Head dorsum smooth posteriorly and medially, but with a few fine rugulae near the inner margin of the eyes and at the base of the antennae. Pronotum predominantly smooth and shining. Mesonotal dorsum reticulate with a few striations. Propodeal dorsum reticulate-punctate and declivity with transverse rugulae; both nodes also reticulate. First gastral tergite with a ring of a short basal costulae, with the remainder of the tergite smooth and shining. Head dorsum with two longitudinal lines of fine acute hairs running between the frontal lines. The venter of head with five suberect hairs and pubescence present. Promesonotal dorsum with scattered fine hairs, acute apically. Propodeal dorsum with two pairs of fine hairs. Petiolar node with three pairs of fine suberect hairs and postpetiole with pairs of scattered suberect, fine hairs. Gastral tergite and sternite with regularly spaced suberect hairs. Colour uniformly yellow.

Type Material

Holotype: South Africa: Western Cape: Cederberg, Mountain Fynbos, 32°20’58”S 19°0’25”E, 08 October 2002, A. Botes, CKOct02-NWP-4.1.6, SAM-HYM-C019385

Etymology

Named after the Cederberg Mountains, where the holotype was collected.

References

• 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).
• Mbanyana, N. and H.G. Robertson. 2008. Review of the ant genus Nesomyrmex in southern Africa. African Natural History. 4:35-55.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Braschler B., S. L. Chown, and K. J.Gaston. 2012. The Fynbos and Succulent Karoo Biomes Do Not Have Exceptional Local Ant Richness. PLoS ONE 7(3): e31463.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0031463
• 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.