Nesomyrmex modestus

This species is known to occur in rainforests between elevation of 520 m and 1325 m (mean: 514 m) in the southwestern part of Madagascar.

Identification
A member of the sikorai species-group.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 *  modestus. Nesomyrmex modestus Csösz & Fisher, 2016b: 19, figs. 3, 10A-C (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Body color: black. Body color pattern: concolorous. Absolute cephalic size: 796 μm [743, 834]. Cephalic length vs. maximum width of head capsule (CL/ CWb): 1.216 [1.179, 1.256]. Postocular distance vs. cephalic length (PoOc/CL): 0.453 [0.438, 0.466]. Postocular sides of cranium contour, anterior view orientation: converging posteriorly. Postocular sides of cranium contour, anterior view shape: convex. Vertex contour line in anterior view shape: straight; feebly convex. Vertex sculpture: main sculpture areolate, ground sculpture smooth. Gena contour line in anterior view shape: convex. Gena contour from anterior view orientation: strongly converging. Gena sculpture: rugoso-reticulate with feeble areolate ground sculpture; rugoso-reticulate with areolate ground sculpture. Concentric carinae laterally surrounding antennal foramen: present. Eye length vs. absolute cephalic size (EL/CS): 0.234 [0.217, 0.25]. Frontal carina distance vs. absolute cephalic size (FRS/CS): 0.295 [0.287, 0.307]. Longitudinal carinae on median region of frons count: present. Smooth median region on frons count: present. Antennomere count: 12. Scape length vs. absolute cephalic size (SL/CS): 0.771 [0.74, 0.808]. Median clypeal notch: present. Median carina of clypeus count: absent. Spine length vs. absolute cephalic size (SPST/CS): 0.236 [0.22, 0.254]. Minimum spine distance vs. absolute cephalic size (SPBA/CS): 0.236 [0.225, 0.248]. Apical spine distance vs. absolute cephalic size (SPTI/CS): 0.251 [0.226, 0.269]. Propodeal spine shape: triangular, blunt. Apical distance of pronotal spines vs. absolute cephalic size (PSTI/CS): 0.657 [0.636, 0.686]. Metanotal depression count: present. Dorsal region of mesosoma sculpture: smooth ground sculpture superimposed by feeble areolate main sculpture. Lateral region of pronotum sculpture: inconspicuous areolate ground sculpture, main sculpture dispersed costate. Mesopleuron sculpture: smooth ground sculpture, superimposed by dispersed rugulae. Metapleuron sculpture: fine areolate ground sculpture, superimposed by dispersed rugulae. Petiole width vs. absolute cephalic size (PEW/CS): 0.223 [0.213, 0.238]. Dorsal region of petiole sculpture: ground sculpture smooth, main sculpture absent. Postpetiole width vs. absolute cephalic size (PPW/CS): 0.341 [0.326, 0.358]. Dorsal region of postpetiole sculpture: ground sculpture smooth, main sculpture absent.

Type Material
Holotype worker: Madagascar: Prov. Toliara, Anosy Region, Anosyenne Mts, 29.33 km NW Manantenina, Madagascar, 540 m, -24.13993 N, 47.07418 E, 21.ii.2015, collection code: BLF36218; CASENT0393175, B.L.Fisher, F.A.Esteves et al. (, CASENT0393175); Paratypes: 13 workers with the same label.

Etymology
The name (modestus = moderate) refers to the moderately coarse surface sculpturing of this species.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Csosz S., and B. L. Fisher. 2016. Toward objective, morphology-based taxonomy: a case study on the Malagasy Nesomyrmex sikorai species group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). PLoS ONE 11(4): e0152454. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0152454