Technomyrmex parandrei

The type material was collected from a rainforest litter sample.

Identification
Bolton (2007) - A member of the Technomyrmex bicolor group. This species is very close to Technomyrmex andrei but the leg colours are so different that separation as a distinct species appears justified. Other species that have populations with differently coloured middle and hind coxae or femora show quite frequent intermediate shades, but no specimens of andrei, out of the hundreds examined, shows a colour pattern intermediate between it and Technomyrmex parandrei.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Gabon.

Nomenclature

 *  parandrei. Technomyrmex parandrei Bolton, 2007a: 31 (w.) GABON.

Worker
Holotype. TL 3.7, HL 0.84, HW 0.74, SL 0.90, PW 0.54, WL 1.22. Indices: CI 88, SI 122, or 27, EPI 97, DTI 145.

Answering the description of Technomyrmex andrei except for colour, as follows. Head, mesosoma, petiole and gaster black. Front coxa and femur blackish brown to black, the trochanter yellow. Middle and hind coxae black except for dorsum which is yellow; trochanters yellow; femora blackish brown to black; tibiae and tarsi pale dull yellow, the tibiae tinged with brown on the ventral surfaces.

Gastral setae damaged. None is present on the second tergite but the setal pits are clearly visible. Gastral tergite 3 with 1 seta present that is adherent to the surface; pits indicate the sites of others. Adherent setae are present on the fourth tergite. These conditions are clearly artifacts of collection and preservation, not the normal condition which is most probably as in andrei.

Paratypes. TL 3.5, HL 0.87, HW 0.76, SL 0.90, PW 0.54, WL 1.24. Indices: CI 87, SI 118, OI 28, EPI 100, DTI 151. As holotype. Setae on gastral tergites 2 - 4 similarly partially abraded but are conspicuous on tergite 3.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Gabon: Provo Ogooue-Maritime, Res Monts Doudou, 24.5 km. 303° WNW Doussala, 2°14.0'S, 10 °23.9'E, 18.iii.2000, 630 m., sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood) rainforest, #2276(26)46 (BL Fisher). Paratype. 1 worker with same data but #2276(24)44 (CAS).