Technomyrmex sycorax

Workers from Gabon were collected from leaf litter and sweeping from low vegetation (Bolton 2007).

Identification
Bolton (2007) - A member of the Technomyrmex textor group. Essentially sycorax is a slightly larger and more elongated close relative of Technomyrmex parviflavus. The former also has longer scapes and smaller eyes, has the propodeal dorsum longer with respect to the declivity, and has body colours that strongly contrast between mesosoma and gaster.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Gabon, Mozambique.

Nomenclature

 *  sycorax. Technomyrmex sycorax Bolton, 2007a: 38, fig. 16 (w.) GABON.

Worker
Holotype. TL 3.0, HL 0.64, HW 0.54, SL 0.74, PW 0.39, WL 0.98. Indices: CI 84, SI 137, OI 30, EPI 164.

Answering the description of parviflavus but differing as follows. Scape relatively longer, eyes slightly smaller, promesonotum more slender (compare indices). Propodeum in profile with a dorsal straight-line length that is distinctly greater than the depth of the declivity to the spiracle. Head, mesosoma, petiole and legs yellow but gaster black, the colours strongly contrasting. Sculpture of dorsal head more strongly developed, consisting of sharply defined minute reticulate-punctulation.

Paratypes. TL 2.7 - 3.0, HL 0.60 0.64, HW 0.50 - 0.52, SL 0.67 0.70, PW 0.37, WL 0.86 0.98 (2 measured). Indices: C1 81 - 83, SI 134 - 135, or 28 - 31, EPI 73 - 74, DTI 162 - 170. As holotype.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Gabon: Provo Ogooue-Maritime, Res. Monts Doudou, 25.2 km. 304° NW Doussala, 2°13.6'S, 10°23.7'E, 14.iii.2000, 640 m., #2246(19)-2, beating low vegetation, rainforest (B. L. Fisher).

Paratypes. 1 worker from same locality but 24.3 km. 30r NW Doussala, 2°13.4 'S, 10°24.4'E, 9.iii.2000, 375 m., #2200(18)-19, sifted leaf litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), rainforest (B. L. Fisher); 1 worker Gabon: Prov. Ogoove-Maritime, Reserve des Monts Doudou, 25.2 km. 3040 NW Doussala, 2°13.63'S, 10°23.67'E, l7.iii.2000, sweep, GAOO-SI26, coastal lowland rainforest, undergrowth, low canopy in forest (S. van Noort) (, CASC).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bolton B. 2007. Taxonomy of the dolichoderine ant genus Technomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) based on the worker caste. Contributions of the American Entomological Institute 35(1): 1-150.
 * Bolton, B. "Taxonomy of the dolichoderine ant genus Technomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) based on the worker caste." Contributions of the American Entomological Institute 35, no. 1 (2007): 1-149.