Nesomyrmex ezantsi

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

The three type specimens were collected from pitfall traps in ‘Lambert’s Bay Strandveld’ (Mucina & Rutherford 2006) vegetation.

Identification

Mbanyana and Robertson (2008) - A member of the simoni species-group. Nesomyrmex ezantsi is similar in appearance to Nesomyrmex koebergensis, Nesomyrmex njengelanga and Nesomyrmex inye. They share the following characteristics: petiolar node with rounded posterodorsal angle and anterodorsal angle either angulate or rounded; dorsum convex and not clearly defined. Dorsum of head with reticulate sculpture, sometimes overlaid by longitudinal rugulae. N. ezantsi is separated from N. njengelanga and N. inye by the propodeum which is armed with a pair of short triangular teeth (angulate in the latter two species with no clearly defined pair of short spines), and by being larger (HW 0.598–0.625 versus 0.507–0.559). N. ezantsi is distinguished from N. koebergensis by the pale colour (light brown in N. koebergensis) and the dorsum of head which is predominantly smooth, with fine reticulate ground sculpture (reticulate and overlaid by longitudinal rugulae in N. koebergensis).

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -32.17965° to -32.18083333°.


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.

Biology

Castes

Nomenclature

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

ezantsi. Nesomyrmex ezantsi Mbanyana & Robertson, 2008: 43, figs. 4m-o (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 0.755, HW 0.598, HW1 0.659, CI 79, SL 0.569, SI 95, PW 0.423, ML 0.875, EL 0.226, EI 38.

Mandibles with fine longitudinal striations. Clypeus predominantly smooth, with a striation medially and bordered by longitudinal striations. Anterior clypeal margin convex. Scapes of moderate length (SI 90). Eyes with 14 ommatidia in the longest row. Promesonotum in profile evenly convex and metanotal groove conspicuously impressed. Propodeum armed with a pair short triangular teeth.

Metapleural lobes low and rounded. Anterior peduncle short and thick, with a tooth-like subpetiolar process. Petiolar node in profile with an angulate anterodorsal angle and a rounded posterodorsal angle; dorsum convex and not clearly defined. Postpetiole low and rounded. Head dorsum with a reticulate pattern and faint striations medially. Promesonotal dorsum with reticulate sculpture and fine longitudinal striations anteriorly. Propodeal dorsum reticulate with a few transverse striations and both nodes also reticulate. First gastral tergite smooth with a ring of short basal costulae. Dorsum of head with four longitudinal lines of fine acute hairs running between the eyes. The venter of head with two curved hairs and three straight hairs; pubescence present. Promesonotal dorsum with at least 10 erect hairs, acute apically. Propodeal dorsum with three erect hairs. Petiolar node with three pairs of hairs and postpetiole with four pairs of hairs. Gastral tergite and sternite with regularly spaced suberect hairs. Colour uniformly yellow.

Paratypes. HL 0.767–0.806, HW 0.598–0.610, HW1 0.664–0.686, CI 76–78, SL 0.561–0.570, SI 94, PW 0.425–0.462, ML 0.875–0.944, EL 0.226–0.236, EI 38–39 (2 of 2 measured).

Same as the holotype, except number of hairs on the propodeum range from three to four and on the petiolar node range from three to four.

Type Material

Holotype: South Africa: Western Cape: Lambert’s Bay, Strandveld, 32°10’51”S 18°18’59”E, 07 October 2002, A. Botes, CKOct02-LMB-1.3.10, SAM-HYM-C019383. Paratypes: South Africa: Western Cape: Lambert’s Bay, Strandveld, 32°10’47”S 18°18’55”E, 07 October 2002, A. Botes, CKOct02-LMB-1.2.10, SAM-HYM-C019384; Lambert’s Bay, Strandveld, 32°10’51”S 18°18’59”E, CKMar03-LMB-1.3.7, 03 March 2003, A. Botes, SAM-HYM-C019386.

Etymology

In isi-Xhosa, ezantsi means ‘below’ and is used here to refer to the fact that this species was collected on the coastal plain, in low-lying areas.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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.