Syllophopsis malamixta

This species has been collected from forest habitats.

Identification
Bolton (1987) - S. malamixtum resembles the widespread Syllophopsis cryptobia but the two are usually separable on colour alone, the former being brown and the latter yellow. However, the presence of relatively dark individuals of cryptobium in Cameroun and possibly of light individuals in Togo means that colour alone is not always diagnostic. Separation of such dubious samples (as well as of more normally coloured material) rests on the fact that in cryptobium the mesopleuron is smooth and the propodeum does not have an acute peak behind the metanotal groove, whilst in malamixtum at least the lower half of the mesopleuron is sculptured and the metanotal groove is followed by an acute peak on the propodeum which appears as a narrow transverse crest in dorsal view.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Ivory Coast, United Republic of Tanzania.

Nomenclature

 *  malamixta. Monomorium malamixtum Bolton, 1987: 423 (w.q.) IVORY COAST. Combination in Syllophopsis: Ward et al., 2014: 13.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.0, HL 0.44, HW 0.36, CI 82, SL 0.36, SI 100, PW 0.27, AL 0.54.

Minute species with eyes of a single ommatidium, the maximum diameter 0.06 x HW. With head in full-face view the sides and the occipital margin very shallowly convex. Antennal scapes of moderate length, SI 100 (range of SI 91-100 in all samples). With alitrunk in profile the promesonotal dorsum evenly arched-convex, the metanotal groove deeply and conspicuously impressed. Propodeal dorsum immediately behind metanotal groove rising to a narrow acute peak, behind which the surface slopes posteriorly to the minute propodeal denticles. In dorsal view the propodeal peak is seen as a narrow inconspicuous transverse crest immediately behind the metanotal groove. Dorsal surfaces of head and body with fine hairs and pubescence, sparsest on the propodeum where only a couple of pairs of hairs occur. With the head in full-face view the scapes and sides behind the eyes with subdecumbent to decumbent pubescence, no pubescence conspicuously erect. All dorsal surfaces of head and body unsculptured except for scattered minute hair-pits but the sides of the alitrunk with the lower two-thirds of the mesopleuron finely punctulate-shagreenate, the impression between mesopleuron and propodeum very finely cross-ribbed and the metapleural gland bullae finely striolate. Colour brown.

Paratypes. TL 1.6-2.0, HL 0.40-0.44, HW 0.32-0.37, CI 80-85, SL 0.32-0.36, SI 91-100, PW 0.24-0.27, AL 0.44-0.54 (to measured). As holotype but maximum diameter of eye 0.06-0.08 x HW. Mesopleural sculpture covers the lower one-half to two-thirds of the sclerite.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Ivory Coast: Man, Mt Tonkoui, 900 m, 13.x.1980 (Mahnert & Perret). Paratypes. 15 workers and 2 females with same data as holotype; 12 workers, Tai Forest, 17.x.1980 (Mahnert & Perret) (MHNG; ; ).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bolton B. 1987. A review of the Solenopsis genus-group and revision of Afrotropical Monomorium Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 54: 263-452.