Simopone oculata

Identification
A member of the grandidieri species group. This appears to be a more slender species, with AIIW/AIIL 0.80. Like Simopone chapmani and Simopone gressitti, AII is longer than AIII and the metapleuron has a transverse sulcus. However, Radchenko’s figs 4 and 5 show a lack of the defined antennal scrobe, deflected down in front of the eye, that is characteristic of those two species. In fact, the morphology of this area of the head seems more closely to resemble that of the Malagasy species Simopone elegans and Simopone grandidieri, where the impression between antennal socket and anterior margin of eye is a broad but shallow fossa, rather than a defined longitudinal scrobe. (Bolton and Fisher 2012)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Thailand, Vietnam.

Nomenclature

 *  oculata. Simopone oculata Radchenko, 1993b: 45, figs. 4-6 (w.) VIETNAM. See also: Bolton & Fisher, 2012: 71.

Type Material
Bolton and Fisher (2012) - Holotype worker, Vietnam: Isl. Kondor, N. 127-87, 5.iv.1987 (A. Radchenko) [not seen].