Leptogenys pavesii

Rarely collected, L. pavesii occupies dry forest habitats, mangrove areas and urban gardens. Workers of the species forage both on the forest floor and on lower vegetation and inhabit rotten logs and tree bark. Collection data indicate that this species is able to colonize coastal regions and human-modified habitats in these islands and it could be introduced to the Malagasy region (Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2014).

Identification
A member of the maxillosa species group. Rakotonirina and Fisher (2014) - Worker. Mandible not closing tightly against clypeus; dorsum of body without standing hairs, but covered with abundant pruinose yellowish pubescence; sculptures shagreenate with sparse punctures; anteromedian lobe of clypeus covered with broadly rounded translucent lamella, pair of peg-like setae projecting anteriorly from near anterior margin of median lobe.

Leptogenys pavesii is very similar to Leptogenys falcigera and Leptogenys maxillosa but can be easily distinguished by the wide and broadly rounded translucent lamella bordering the anteromedian lobe of the clypeus. In L. falcigera and L. maxillosa, this translucent lamella is narrow and angulate.

Distribution
In the Comoros, this species is found on Mayotte and Mohéli. On Madagascar it lives in the extreme north.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Cameroun, Comoros, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania. Malagasy Region: Madagascar, Mayotte.

Nomenclature

 *  pavesii. Leptogenys pavesii Emery, 1892a: 111 (w.) SOMALIA. Senior synonym of sericeus: Bolton, 1975a: 255.
 * sericeus. Leptogenys (Leptogenys) maxillosa subsp. sericeus Weber, 1942a: 46 (w.) SUDAN. Junior synonym of pavesii: Bolton, 1975a: 255.

Worker
Rakotonirina and Fisher (2014) - (7 specimens). HW: 1.17–1.33, HL: 1.26–1.39, CI: 93–96, SL: 1.23–1.41, SI: 102–106, PW: 0.85–0.96, WL: 1.98–2.21, PNH: 0.66–0.76, PNL: 0.56–0.69, PNW: 0.56–0.64, DNI: 94–106, LNI: 111–125.

Head broader than long, noticeably increasing in width to front of eyes; lateral border slightly convex. Eye large, breaking outline of sides of head. Antennal scape long, about one fourth of distal portion extending beyond posterior cephalic margin. Anteromedian lobe of clypeus with wide and broadly rounded translucent lamella; a pair of anteriorly projecting peg-like setae present near anterior margin of clypeal median lobe. Node of petiole longer than broad when viewed dorsally. Standing hairs on dorsum of body absent apart from those on clypeus and near apex of gaster, though much longer pruinose yellowish pubescence is abundant. Body heavily shagreenate, superimposed with sparse, shallow punctures. Color black, with dark brown to brown apical portion of appendages and tip of gaster.

Type Material
Rakotonirina and Fisher (2014) - Syntype workers, Somalia (Robecchi) [not examined].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bolton B. 1975. A revision of the ant genus Leptogenys Roger (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Ethiopian region with a review of the Malagasy species. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 31: 235-305.
 * Emery C. 1911. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Ponerinae. Genera Insectorum 118: 1-125.
 * Garcia F.H., Wiesel E. and Fischer G. 2013.The Ants of Kenya (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)Faunal Overview, First Species Checklist, Bibliography, Accounts for All Genera, and Discussion on Taxonomy and Zoogeography. Journal of East African Natural History, 101(2): 127-222
 * IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
 * Menozzi C. 1930. Formiche della Somalia italiana meridionale. Memorie della Società Entomologica Italiana. 9: 76-130.
 * Menozzi C. 1939. Hymenoptera Formicidae. Missione Biologica nel Paese dei Borana. 3: 97-110.
 * Menozzi C., M. Consani. 1952. Missione biologica Sagan-Omo diretta dal Prof. E. Zavattari. Hymenoptera Formicidae. Rivista di Biologia Coloniale 11: 57-71.
 * Rakotonirina J. C., and B. L. Fisher. 2014. Revision of the Malagasy ponerine ants of the genus Leptogenys Roger (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 3836 (1): 001163.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1922. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. VIII. A synonymic list of the ants of the Ethiopian region. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45: 711-1004