Zasphinctus aprilia

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Zasphinctus aprilia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Dorylinae
Genus: Zasphinctus
Species group: sarowiwai
Species: Z. aprilia
Binomial name
Zasphinctus aprilia
Hita Garcia & Gómez, 2025

Based on the current data, it seems that Z. aprilia has the widest distribution range of all African Zasphinctus since it is known from its type locality in western Uganda, as well as from three additional ones in the eastern parts of the D.R. Congo.

Photo Gallery

  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 25. Shaded surface display volume renderings of 3D models of Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). A, full body in profile. B, full body in dorsal view. C, head in full-face view (with antennae). D, head in full-face view (without antennae). E, head in ventral view. F, abdominal segment II (petiole) in profile. G, abdominal segment II (petiole) in dorsal view. H, tergum of AS III in dorsal view I sternum of AS III in ventral view.

Identification

With characters of the Z. sarowiwai group (Figs 19A, B, C, E, G, 20A, B, C, E, G):

  • body size significantly larger (HL 0.73–0.98; WL 0.98–1.40)
  • head in full-face view appearing thicker (CI 80–86)
  • head in profile appearing conspicuously thicker, with a swollen underside
  • clypeal area usually with conspicuous median tooth (except for Z. kouakoui)
  • torular-posttorular complex in dorsal view with sides converging posteriorly
  • torular-posttorular complex in profile funnel-shaped
  • vertexal margin either weakly developed or fully absent
  • outline of occipital margin in posterodorsal view sharp and very regularly defined
  • vertex not clearly demarcated and not appearing fused with the occiput
  • anterior outline of postoccipital margin in ventral view sharp and very regularly defined and with anterolateral projections rounded
  • mesosoma in profile relatively higher and compact (LMI 37–41)
  • pleural endophragmal pit weakly developed, either shallow but visible or inconspicuous
  • mesosoma in dorsal view appearing thicker and more compact (DMI 41–45; DMI2 53–59)
  • petiolar tergum in profile relatively higher, ~ 1.0–1.2 × higher than long (LPI 82–108)
  • petiolar tergum in dorsal view thicker, ~ 1.0–1.3 × broader than long (DPI 102–131)
  • abdominal tergum III in dorsal view weakly trapezoidal, more rounded rectangular with less angulate anterior margin
  • abdominal sternum III in ventral view campaniform, comparatively broader and shorter, sides strongly rounded
  • usually without any noticeable surface sculpture (except for piliferous foveae)

Plus the following: body size significantly much larger (HL 0.84–0.86; WL 1.18–1.26)

  • torular–posttorular complex in profile comparatively lower and funnel-shaped (Fig. 5A)
  • vertexal margin very weak and dorsum smoothly rounding onto posterior face of head (Figs 6A, 7A)
  • lateral arms of hypostomal carina strongly diverging anteriorly, relatively thick, and strongly angulate at widest points (Fig. 8A)
  • postgenal sulcus weakly impressed and running less than halfway to occipital margin (Fig. 8A)
  • posterodorsal margin of mesosoma interrupted medially (Figs 11A, 12A)
  • subpetiolar process of petiole (AS II) in profile with thickened anterior and ventral margins and well developed concavity with differentiated fenestra (Fig. 13A)
  • petiolar tergum in dorsal view relatively thicker: ~ 1.0–1.1 × broader than long (DPI 102–114) (Fig. 14A)
  • abdominal sternum III in ventral view campaniform, comparatively broad and short, sides strongly rounded (Fig. 16A)
  • posterior end of abdominal segment III in ventral view with thinner, deep, sharply and relatively regularly outlined transverse groove (Fig. 16A)
  • prora in anteroventral view well-developed with sharply and very regularly shaped lateroventral margins (Fig. 16A)
  • abdominal segment VI in dorsal view distinctly shorter: ~ 1.8–1.9 × broader than long (DA6I 178–193) (Fig. 17A)
  • girdling constrictions between abdominal segments IV, V, VI unsculptured (Fig. 18A)
  • surface sculpture on cephalic dorsum and genae completely smooth and very shiny with moderately dense, deep, and moderately sized to large piliferous foveae (Figs 4A, 5A, 19A, 20A)
  • general surface sculpture on mesosoma and metasoma almost completely smooth and very shiny with scattered, piliferous foveae (Figs 20A, 21A)
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 2. Representative screenshots of virtual dissection of exemplary 3D model, Zasphinctus aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763), in the software MeshLab. A, full body uncut. B, body after removal of antennae, legs, and AS III-VII. C, head and mesosoma after removal of remainder of body. D, head without antennae isolated E AS II (petiole) in isolated F AS III-VII isolated.
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 4. Diagnostic plate showing still images from surface volume renderings of the head in full-face view (the remainder of the body virtually removed) (torular-posttorular complex in semi-transparent red; anterior projections of parafrontal ridges in semi-transparent yellow). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui paratype (CASENT0764653). C, Z. lolae holotype (KGCOL02270). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRACFOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai holotype (CASENT0764654). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 5. Diagnostic plate showing still images from surface volume renderings of the head in profile view (the remainder of the body virtually removed) (torular-posttorular complex in semi-transparent red). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui paratype (CASENT0764653). C, Z. lolae paratype (CASENT0764651). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (KGCOL02270). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai holotype (CASENT0764654). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 6. Diagnostic plate showing still images from surface volume renderings of the head in posterodorsal view (the remainder of the body virtually removed) (occipital margin in semi-transparent red; vertexal margin in semi-transparent yellow). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui paratype (CASENT0764653). C, Z. lolae holotype (KGCOL02270). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRACFOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai holotype (CASENT0764654). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 7. Diagnostic plate showing still images from surface volume renderings of the head in posterior view (the remainder of the body virtually removed) (occipital margin in semi-transparent red; vertexal margin in semi-transparent yellow). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui paratype (CASENT0764653). C, Z. lolae holotype (KGCOL02270). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRACFOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai holotype (CASENT0764654). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 8. Diagnostic plate showing still images from surface volume renderings of the head in ventral view (the remainder of the body virtually removed) (hypostoma in semi-transparent red; postgenal sulcus in semi-transparent yellow; postoccipital carina in semi-transparent green). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui paratype (CASENT0764653). C, Z. lolae paratype (CASENT0764651). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRACFOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai paratype (CASENT0764650). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 10. Diagnostic plate showing still images from surface volume renderings of the mesosoma in profile view (the remainder of the body virtually removed) (pleural endophragmal pit concavity in semi-transparent yellow). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui paratype (CASENT0764653). C, Z. lolae holotype (KGCOL02270). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRACFOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai paratype (CASENT0764650). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 11. Diagnostic plate showing still images from surface volume renderings of the mesosoma in dorsal view (the remainder of the body virtually removed). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui paratype (CASENT0764653). C, Z. lolae holotype (KGCOL02270). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRAC-FOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai paratype (CASENT0764650). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 12. Diagnostic plate showing still images from surface volume renderings of the mesosoma in posterior view focusing on propodeal declivity (outline of declivity in semi-transparent yellow). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui paratype (CASENT0764653). C, Z. lolae paratype (CASENT0764651). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRACFOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai paratype (CASENT0764650). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 13. Diagnostic plate showing still images from surface volume renderings of the tergum of AS II (petiole) in profile view (the remainder of the body virtually removed) (tergum in semi-transparent red, laterotergite in semi-transparent yellow). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui paratype (CASENT0764653). C, Z. lolae holotype (KGCOL02270). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRACFOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai paratype (CASENT0764650). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 14. Diagnostic plate showing still images from surface volume renderings of the tergum of AS II (petiole) in dorsal view (the remainder of the body virtually removed). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui holotype (KGCOL00589). C, Z. lolae holotype (KGCOL02270). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRACFOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai paratype (CASENT0764650). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 15. Diagnostic plate showing still images from surface volume renderings of the tergum of AS III in dorsal view (the remainder of the body virtually removed). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui paratype (CASENT0764653). C, Z. lolae paratype (CASENT0764651). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRAC-FOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai paratype (CASENT0764650). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 16. Diagnostic plate showing still images from surface volume renderings of the sternum of AS III in ventral view (the remainder of the body virtually removed) (Bum in semi-transparent yellow, prora in semi-transparent red). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui paratype (CASENT0764653). C, Z. lolae paratype (CASENT0764651). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRACFOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai paratype (CASENT0764650). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 17. Diagnostic plate showing still images from surface volume renderings of the tergum of AS VI in dorsal view (the remainder of the body virtually removed) (outline of post-sclerite tergum in semi-transparent red). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui paratype (CASENT0764653). C, Zasphinctus lolae paratype (CASENT0764651). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRACFOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai paratype (CASENT0764650). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 18. Diagnostic plate showing still images from surface volume renderings of the sternites of AS III-VII in ventral view (the remainder of the body virtually removed) (girdling constrictions with cross-ribbed sculpture are in semi-transparent red; unsculptured girdling constrictions are in semi-transparent yellow). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui paratype (CASENT0764653). C, Z. lolae paratype (CASENT0764651). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRACFOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai paratype (CASENT0764650). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 19. Diagnostic plate showing head in full-face view of all species treated herein (stacked colour images). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui holotype (KGCOL00589). C, Z. lolae holotype (KGCOL02270). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRACFOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai paratype (CASENT0764650). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 20. Diagnostic plate showing full body in profile view of all species treated herein (stacked colour images). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui holotype (KGCOL00589). C, Z. lolae holotype (KGCOL02270). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRACFOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai holotype (CASENT0764654). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 21. Diagnostic plate showing full body in dorsal view of all species treated herein (stacked colour images). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui holotype (KGCOL00589). C, Z. lolae holotype (KGCOL02270). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRACFOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai holotype (CASENT0764654). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).

Keys including this Species

Distribution

  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 3. Maps showing the known distribution ranges of Afrotropical Zasphinctus species.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 3.6° to -1.2°.

 
North
Temperate 		North
Subtropical 		Tropical South
Subtropical 		South
Temperate
  • Source: Hita Garcia et al., 2025

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

AntMapLegend.png

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.
pChart

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

Castes

Economo-header (arilab.unit.oist.jp).png  X-ray micro-CT scan 3D model of Zasphinctus aprilia (worker) prepared by the Economo lab at OIST.

holotype See on Sketchfab. See list of 3D images.

Nomenclature

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

  • aprilia. Zasphinctus aprilia Hita Garcia & Gómez, 2025: 36, figs. 2, 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A, 7A, 8A, 10A, 11A, 12A, 13A, 14A, 15A, 16A, 17A, 18A, 19A, 20A, 21A, 25 (w.) UGANDA.

Type Material

  • Holotype • Pinned worker, Uganda, Kabarole, Kibale National Park, Kanyawara Biological Station, rainforest, ex leaf litter, 0.56437, 30.36059, 1510 m, collection code FHG01047, 6.–16.VIII.2012 (F. Hita Garcia) (ZMHB: CASENT0764763).
  • Paratypes • Three pinned workers from Uganda, Kabarole, Kibale National Park, Kanyawara Biological Station, rainforest opening, field station clearing, hand collected, 0.55838, 30.35992, 1510 m, collection code PGH00079, 6.–16.VIII.2012 (P.G. Hawkes) (NHMUK: CASENT0790015; AFRC: CASENT0254676; SAMC: CASENT0254677) and • 2 pinned workers from Uganda, Kabarole, Kibale National Park, Kanyawara Biological Station, moist evergreen forest, ground forager(s), 0.56437, 30.36059, 1520 m, collection codes BLF29378 and BLF29365, 8.VIII.2012 (B.L. Fisher; F.A. Esteves; Malagasy Arthropod Team) (CASC: CASENT0352810, CASENT0352813).

Description

References

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