Syllophopsis thrascolepta

Known from rainforest habitats.

Identification
Bolton (1987) – S. thrascoleptum is the largest member of this group found in West Africa, and the only West African species with SI consistently greater than 100. Apart from this thrascoleptum differs from Syllophopsis modesta by having the metanotal groove deeply impressed, and from Syllophopsis malamixta by being yellow and lacking mesopleural sculpture.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Central African Republic, Ivory Coast.

Nomenclature

 *  thrascolepta. Monomorium thrascoleptum Bolton, 1987: 424, figs. 93, 94 (w.) IVORY COAST. Combination in Syllophopsis: Ward et al., 2014: 13.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.1, HL 0.49, HW 0.40, CI 81, SL 0.41, SI 103, PW 0.30, AL 0.58.

Eyes of a single ommatidium, maximum diameter 0.07 x HW. Antennal scapes relatively long (SI > 100). Promesonotum in profile evenly rounded, the metanotal groove deeply and conspicuously impressed. Propodeal dorsum immediately behind the metanotal groove raised and angular in profile, but not surmounted by an acute peak which appears as a transverse crest in dorsal view. Behind this highest point the propodeal dorsum sloping shallowly to the angular to slightly prominent comers which separate dorsum and declivity. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with fine standing hairs, sparsest on the propodeum and densest on the head and gaster. With the head in full-face view the sides behind the eyes and the antennal scapes with conspicuously elevated pubescence which is suberect to subdecumbent. Entire body smooth and shining, unsculptured except for hair-pits, cross-ribbing at the mesopleural-propodeal junction and a few faint striae over the bulla of the metapleural glands. Colour uniform clear yellow.

Paratypes. TL 1.9-2.2, HL 0.46-0.50, HW 0.38-0.41, CI 80-83, SL 0.40-0.44, SI 103-110, PW 0.28-0.31, AL 0.56-0.60 (8 measured). As holotype but some with the angulate corners of the propodeum more strongly prominent.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Ivory Coast: Nzi Noua, 13.i.1977 (W. L. Brown). Paratypes. 8 workers with same data as holotype (MCZ; ).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Sharaf M. R., and A. S. Aldawood. 2013. First occurrence of the Monomorium hildebrandti-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in the Arabian Peninsula, with description of a new species M. kondratieffi n. sp.