Paraparatrechina gnoma

Known from only a few collections, this species is known from forested habitat.

Identification
LaPolla et al. (2010) - Small size (TL: 1.2–1.44); HL & SL < 0.4 mm.

Compare with: Paraparatrechina oreias and Paraparatrechina subtilis. This species is most likely to be confused with P. oreias, but can separated by its overall smaller size in head width and length and scape length. P. gnoma is currently the smallest known Afrotropical Paraparatrechina species, although P. brunnella is very small as well (TL: 1.23–1.58).

Key to Paraparatrechina of the Afrotropical and Malagasy Regions

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Ghana, Nigeria.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  gnoma. Paraparatrechina gnoma LaPolla & Cheng, in LaPolla, Cheng & Fisher, 2010: 10, figs. 5,16,17 (w.) GHANA.

Worker
(n=12): TL: 1.2–1.44; HW: 0.32–0.34; HL: 0.36–0.38; EL: 0.084–0.098; SL: 0.34–0.38; PW: 0.22–0.25; WL: 0.36–0.42; PDH: 0.19–0.21; PrFL: 0.28–0.30; PrFW: 0.09–0.11; GL: 0.47–0.67. Indices: CI: 85–94; REL: 24–26; SI: 102–115; FI: 32–36

Head brownish-yellow, with lighter yellow colored clypeus, mandibles, and antennae and area around torulae. A fine, short pubescence covers the head. Scapes surpass posterior margin by about the length of the first 2 funicular segments. Mesosoma compact, laterally brownish-yellow, with dorsum lighter yellow, and a fine pubescence covering the entire mesosomal dorsum. Pronotum rises very steeply from anterior margin to dorsum; propodeum possesses a short, angular dorsal face, with a long declivitous face. Procoxae typically brownish-yellow as in mesosoma, although procoxae in some specimens are lighter yellow; overall, the legs are brownish-yellow, becoming yellow towards last tarsal segments; gaster brownish-yellow becoming lighter yellow around segmental margins.

Type Material
Holotype worker, GHANA: Mankrang For. Res. nr. Akomaden; 11.iii.1992 (R. Belshaw) ; 6 paratype workers, same locality as holotype (BMNH, ).

Etymology
The species epithet is a Latin noun in apposition for dwarf, in reference to the fact that this is the smallest species of Paraparatrechina currently known from the Afrotropics.