Nesomyrmex entabeni

Collected from pitfall traps in Mountain Fynbos of the Cederberg in the Western Cape.

Identification
Mbanyana and Robertson (2008) - A member of the simoni species-group. Nesomyrmex entabeni looks similar to Nesomyrmex nanniae and is distinguished from the latter species by its metanotal groove which is clearly defined in dorsal view and which has cross-ribs. In N. nanniae promesonotum and propodeum are confluent in dorsal view with no metanotal groove visible medially.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: South Africa.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  entabeni. Nesomyrmex entabeni Mbanyana & Robertson, 2008: 43, figs. 3d-i (w.) SOUTH AFRICA.

Description
Holotype. HL 0.706, HW 0.516, HW1 0.546, CI 73, SL 0.482, SI 93, PW 0.386, ML 0.816, EL 0.185, EI 36.

Mandibles with fine longitudinal striations. Clypeus with longitudinal striations except for the posterior median portion, which is predominantly smooth. Anterior median portion of clypeus concave in longitudinal section. Eyes with 13 ommatidia in a longest row. Scapes relatively long (SI 93). With head in full-face view hind margin shallowly convex. With mesosoma in profile, dorsal margins of promesonotum and propodeum each evenly convex, with metanotal groove conspicuously impressed. Propodeum unarmed, with dorsum rounding evenly into the declivity. Metapleural lobes low and rounded. Subpetiolar process absent. Petiolar node convex in profile with posterior face steeper than anterior face. Postpetiole rounded and slightly lower than petiolar node. Dorsum of head predominantly smooth and shining, with fine superficial reticulate ground-sculpture; longitudinal striations present between the eyes and base of antennae. Promesonotal dorsum predominantly smooth and shining, with fine superficial reticulate sculpture. Metanotal groove with cross-ribs. Propodeal dorsum with reticulate sculpture and faint transverse striations posteri-orly including the declivity. Peduncle with irregular transverse striations. Petiolar node and postpetiole predominantly with irregular reticulate sculpture, less well defined dorsally; petiolar node also with a few short irregular transverse striae on the sides. Gastral tergite smooth and shining and without costulae at the base. Dorsum of head with two pairs of hairs near the inner margin of the eyes and one pair on the posterior margin; sparse pubescence present. The venter of head with three straight hairs; pubescence present. Promesonotum with a pair of erect hairs on the pronotal humeri; sparse pubescence present. Propodeum without erect hairs, only sparse pubescence present. Petiolar node and postpetiole each with a pair of backwardly projecting hairs. Gastral tergites and sternites with scattered straight to subdecumbent hairs. Colour uniformly medium to dark brown.

Paratypes. HL 0.705–0.719, HW 0.502–0.570, HW1 0.545– 0.605, CI 70–79, SL 0.484–0.511, SI 89–97, PW 0.391–0.423, ML 0.839–0.910, EL 0.187–0.201, EI 35–38 (5 of 9 measured).

Same as holotype, with the following differences; the ommatidia in the longest row of the eyes range from 13 to 15. The venter of head with up to four straight hairs. Hairs on the petiolar node range from two to four and hairs on the postpetiole range from two to four.

Type Material
Holotype: South Africa: Western Cape: Mountain Fynbos, 934 m; 32°18’39”S 19°10’14”E; 11 October 2002, A. Botes; CkOct02-CWA-16.1.1, SAM-HYM-C019393. Paratypes: South Africa: Western Cape: Mountain Fynbos, 359 m, 32°20’19”S 18°59’24”E, 03 March 2003, A. Botes CkMar03-SAW-3.1.5, SAM-HYM-C019394; Mountain Fynbos, 527 m, 32°20’58”S 19°0’25”E, 08 October 2002, A. Botes, CkOct02-NWP-4.1.2, SAM-HYM-C019395; Mountain Fynbos, 920 m, 32°18’36”S 19°10’32”E, 11 October 2002, A. Botes, CkOct02-CWA-16.4.3, SAM-HYM-C019396; Mountain Fynbos, 920 m, 32°18’36”S 19°10’32”E, 11 October 2002, A. Botes, CkOct02-CWA-16.4.4, SAM-HYMC019401; Mountain Fynbos, 332 m, 32°20’20”S 18°59’16”E, 03 March 2003, A. Botes, CkMar03-SAW-3.4.5, SAM-HYMC019402.

Etymology
In isi-Xhosa entabeni means ‘in the mountain’, which is appropriate as all specimens were collected in a mountainous area.

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.
 * Mbanyana N., and H. G. Robertson. 2008. Review of the ant genus Nesomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) in southern Africa. African Natural History 4: 35-55.