Nesomyrmex njengelanga

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

Four specimens were collected from pitfall traps in Mountain Fynbos in the Cederberg of the Western Cape and one from Succulent Karoo in the Touwsrivier Nature Reserve.

Identification

Mbanyana and Robertson (2008) - A member of the simoni species-group. Nesomyrmex njengelanga is similar looking to Nesomyrmex inye and distinguished from the latter species by lacking long curved hairs on the venter of head, only straight hairs present. N. inye has curved hairs on the venter of head. It is also distinguished by its uniformly yellow colour as opposed to medium brown of N. inye.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -32.31055556° to -33.29833333°.


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.

njengelanga. Nesomyrmex njengelanga Mbanyana & Robertson, 2008: 51, figs. 3m-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 0.712, HW 0.531, HW1 0.590, CI 75, SL 0.477, SI 90, PW 0.398, AL 0.792, EL 0.197, EI 37.

Mandibles with fine longitudinal striations. Clypeus smooth and shining medially, bordered by longitudinal striations. Anterior clypeal margin evenly convex medially. Scapes of moderate length (SI 90). Eyes with 11 ommatidia in longest row. With head in full face view, hind margin shallowly convex. Promesonotum in profile evenly convex. Metanotal groove conspicuously impressed. Dorsum of propodeum evenly convex in profile with only a hint of angulate corners at the junction between the dorsum and declivity. Anterior peduncle with a prominent keel-shaped subpetiolar process. Metapleural lobes low and rounded. Petiolar node rounded in profile with dorsum poorly defined; junction between anterior face and dorsum more narrowly rounded than between posterior face and dorsum. Postpetiole low and rounded. Dorsum of head predominantly smooth, with fine reticulate sculpture and a few fine longitudinal striations near the inner margin of the eyes. Promesonotal dorsum predominantly smooth with fine reticulate sculpture. Metanotal groove with cross-ribs. Propodeal dorsum with reticulate punctate sculpture, aligned to form fine transverse striations. Both nodes predominantly smooth, with fine reticulate sculpture. First gastral tergite with a ring of short costulae at the base, otherwise smooth. Dorsum of head with at least seven pairs of erect hairs, with underlying sparse pubescence. The venter of head with four straight hairs, pubescence present. Promesonotal dorsum with seven pairs of erect hairs present. Propodeal dorsum with two pairs of erect hairs. Petiolar node with four pairs of suberect hairs, postpetiole with six pairs of suberect hairs. Gastral tergite and sternite with regularly spaced suberect hairs. Colour uniformly yellow.

Paratypes. HL 0.654–0.713, HW 0.507–0.538, HW1 0.556–0.592, CI 75–77, SL 0.433–0.462, SI 85–87, PW 0.359–0.398, ML 0.711–0.816, EL 0.186–0.210, EI 35–40 (4 of 4 measured)

Same as holotype except eyes with 10–11 ommatidia in longest row. There are 3–4 hairs on the venter of head. Promesonotal dorsum with 6–7 pairs of erect hairs. Postpetiole with 5–6 pairs of suberect hairs. Promesonotal dorsum either with fine reticulate sculpture or with longitudinal striations towards the metanotal groove and reticulate sculpture anteriorly. Propodeal dorsum either unarmed or with only a hint of angulate corners at the junction between the dorsum and declivity.

Type Material

Holotype: South Africa: Western Cape: Mountain Fynbos, 32°18’38”S 19°10’60”E, 11 October 2002, A. Botes, CKOct02-CWA-16.2.7, SAM-HYM-C019387. Paratypes: South Africa: Western Cape: Mountain Fynbos, 32°18’38”S 19°10’60”E, 11 October 2002, A. Botes, CKOct02-CWA-16.2.7, SAM-HYM-C019387; Mountain Fynbos, 32°23’45”S 19°5’14”E, 8 October 2002; A. Botes, CKOct02-CWA-5.1.3, SAM-HYM-C019388; Touwsrivier Private Nature Reserve, 33°17’54”S 19°57’31”E, collected in Mosaic vegetation, 19 March 2006, B. Braschler, Iimbovane TOU190306 1.5, SAM-HYM-C019795.

Etymology

In isi-Xhosa, njengelanga means ‘like the sun’ and is used here to refer to the yellow colouration of the species.

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.