Lepisiota cacozela

A relatively rarely species reported from Nigeria and the Congo Basin. In Nigeria it is quite common, especially on cocoa, where it can be a sub-dominant, with Crematogaster africana, on 5-10% of trees, at 53 of 76 farms examined and regarded as negatively associated with Oecophylla longinoda (Taylor 1977; Taylor & Adedoyin 1978; Taylor et al., 2018). It nests in dead branches and tends aphids and coccids where it builds tents of vegetable and other debris over feeding areas. It forages on native herbaceous vegetation and trees, including Anacardium occidentale and Acacia gourmaensis, and on cashew, kola and in mango (Mangifera indica) orchards, where it was observed antagonist of Oecophylla longinoda. (Taylor et al., 2018)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Benin, Congo, Ivory Coast.

Nomenclature

 *  cacozela. Acantholepis capensis var. cacozela Stitz, 1916: 395 (w.) CONGO. [First available use of Acantholepis capensis st. canescens var. cacozela Santschi, 1914b: 126; unavailable name.] Combination in Lepisiota: Bolton, 1995b: 227. Raised to species: Santschi, 1935a: 270.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Kone M., S. Konate, K. Yeo, P. K. Kouassi, K. E. Linsemair. 2010. Diversity and abundance of terrrestrial ants along a gradient of land use intensification in a transitional forest-savannah zone of Cote d'Ivoire. Journal of Applied Biosciences 29: 1809-1827.
 * Kone M., S. Konate, K. Yeo, P. K. Kouassi, and K. E. Linsenmair. 2012. Changes in ant communities along an age gradient of cocoa cultivation in the Oumé region, central Côte dIvoire. Entomological Science 15: 324339.
 * Stephens S. S., P. B. Bosu, and M. R. Wager. 2016. Effect of overstory tree species diversity and composition on ground foraging ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in timber plantations in Ghana. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & management 12(1-2): 96-107.
 * Stitz H. 1916. Formiciden. Ergebnisse der Zweiten Deutschen Zentral-Afrika Expedition 1: 369-405.
 * Taylor B., N. Agoinon, A. Sinzogan, A. Adandonon, Y. N'Da Kouagou, S. Bello, R. Wargui, F. Anato, I. Ouagoussounon, H. Houngbo, S. Tchibozo, R. Todjhounde, and J. F. Vayssieres. 2018. Records of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Republic of Benin, with particular reference to the mango farm ecosystem. Journal of Insect Biodiversity 8(1): 006–029.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1922. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. II. The ants collected by the American Museum Congo Expedition. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45: 39-269.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1922. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. VIII. A synonymic list of the ants of the Ethiopian region. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45: 711-1004