Proceratium toschii

Identification
A member of the toschii clade. Differing from its sister species, Proceratium terroni, in the worker, by the presence of suberect, long hairs on the head and on the mesosoma. Both species share a similar general body shape. (Baroni Urbani and de Andrade 2003)

Distribution
This taxon was described, and is only known, from Kenya.

Nomenclature

 *  toschii. Sysphincta toschii Consani, 1951: 167, fig. 1 (w.) KENYA. Combination in Proceratium: Brown, 1958g: 248. See also: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2003b: 282.

Queen
Baroni Urbani and de Andrade (2003) - Sub-ergatoid gyne. The sole known specimen exhibits a regular worker morphology coupled with the presence of large eyes and of the anterior ocellus. Head slightly longer than broad, with the sides weakly diverging posteriorly. Vertex convex. Clypeus medially reduced, subconvex, with superficially crenulate margin and about as long as the antennal socket. Antennal socket with broad torulus. Frontal carinae raised, very close each other oil the two anterior thirds weakly diverging posteriorly and on the last third connected each other and almost perpendicular to the cephalic capsule. Lateral expansions of the frontal carinae narrow. Genal carinae absent. Gular area not impressed. Eyes relatively large, with ca. 25 ommatidia and below the midline of the head. Anterior ocellus present and developed. First funicular joint 1/5 longer than broad. Funicular joints 2-10 broader than long. Last funicular joint about as long as the sum of joints 7- 10. Scapes much short of the vertexal margin and gently thickening apically. Masticatory margin of the mandibles with 3-4 denticles before the pointed apical tooth. Palp formula not visible in the sole known specimen.

Mesosoma about as long as the maximum head length (mandibles included), convex dorsally. Propodeal suture superficially impressed dorsally. Promesopleural and meso-metapleural sutures impressed ventrally only. Basal face of the propodeum gently declivous posteriorly. Area between the basal and declivous faces with a relatively large, blunt tooth on each side. Propodeal lobes subround. Propodeal spiracle small, round and placed above mid height of the propodeuln in lateral view. Metapleural gland with inflated and transparent bulla.

Petiole with weakly cuneiform apex in profile broader than long, in dorsal view; its sides shortly diverging anteriorly and convex posteriorly. Anterior border of the petiole concave and marginate, the margin toothed on each side. Ventral process of the petiole lamelliform and subrectangular. Postpetiole in dorsal view broader than the petiole and with posteriorly diverging sides. Postpetiolar sternite anteromedially with a marked subconvex projection. Posterior half of the postpctiolar sternite convex. Constriction between postpetiole and gaster impressed. Gastral tergite I strongly convex and about 1/4 longer than the postpetiole. Castral sternite I subround and projecting anteriorly. Remaining gastral tergites and sternites curved ventrally.

Legs slender but not very elongate. All tibiae with a pectinate spur. Spurs of fore legs without basal spine. Fore basitarsi longer than the mid ones. Hind basitarsi about 1/5 shorter than hind tibiae. Tarsomeres of mid and hind legs missing in the holotype. Pretarsal claws of fore legs simple. Arolium of fore legs developed.

Sculpture. Head, mesosoma and petiole granulate, the granulation more marked on the head. Postpetiole, gaster and legs smooth and with sparse, minute, superficial punctures.

Body covered by the following types of hairs (only the head and part of the mesosoma have well preserved hairs): (1) short, dense, suberect, on the head and mesosoma; (2) longer than type (1), suberect, rare on the head, on the mesosoma and on the scapes; (3) long, subdecumbent on the petiole, postpetiole and gaster; (4) shorter than hair type (1), dense, subdecumbent and decumbent on the funicular joints. In addition the funicular joints bear whitish, thick, appressed, short, sparse hairs.

Colour light brown; area behind the ocelli darker.

Measurements in mm and Indices: TL 3.17; HL 0.77; HW 0.72; EL 0.10; SL 0.53; WL 0.88; PeL 0.25; PeW 0.28; HFeL 0.58; HTiL 0.48; HBaL 0.40; LS4 0.15; LT4 0.65; CI 93.5; SI 68.8; IGR 0.23.

Type Material
Baroni Urbani and de Andrade (2003) - Type locality: Nairobi, Kenya. Type material: holotype sub-ergatoid gyne labelled: "Kenia, Nairobi, IX-45, S. Patrizi leg., Sysphincta toschii Cons., 1949 det. M. Consani" in DIVA, examined.

Additional References

 * [[Media:Consani 1951.pdf|Consani, M. 1951. Formiche dell'Africa Orientale I. Boll. Ist. Entomol. Univ. Studi Bologna 18: 167-172 PDF]]