Cataulacus wasmanni

Found in forested habitats, little is known about the biology of Cataulacus wasmanni.

Identification
A member of the huberi group. The description by Forel of the sculpturation and form of the alitrunk seems to ally  Cataulacus wasmanni to Cataulacus oberthueri and its allies, particularly to Cataulacus regularis. It should be easily recognizable as it is the only Madagascan species on record in which the direction of sculpturation differs on the propodeum from that on the mesonotum. This arrangement of sculpture is known from two species of the Ethiopian region, namely Cataulacus inermis and Cataulacus pilosus, but in the first of these the propodeum lacks spines, whilst the second is densely hairy. (Bolton 1974)

Regional Cataulacus Key

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

Nomenclature

 *  wasmanni. Cataulacus (Otomyrmex) wasmanni Forel, 1897c: 193 (w.) MADAGASCAR. [Otomyrmex wasmanni Wasmann, 1897: 250. Nomen nudum, attributed to Forel.] See also: Bolton, 1974a: 29.

Worker
Bolton (1974) - TL 5.3.

Occipital crest developed. Occipital corners with short, fairly small, triangular, ear-shaped points. Eyes very large, fiat. Sides of head behind eyes apparently not denticulate. Preocular tooth present. In profile the dorsal outline of the alitrunk hemispherically arched. Pronotum marginate, not denticulate, the margin sharp, horizontal and leaf-like. Mesonotum and propodeum with a horizontal, broad, short thorn or strong tooth. Promesonotal suture indicated by an impression. Propodeum with a pair of very long, acute, divergent spines, which are half as long as the entire alitrunk. Gaster short, elliptical, almost round in dorsal view.

Head densely and coarsely, regularly longitudinally rugose dorsally. Occipital surface behind the crest transversely rugose. Pronotum coarsely, densely longitudinally striate; the mesonotum similarly but very regularly striate. Propodeal dorsum transversely striate, the sides longitudinally so; similarly the segments of the pedicel. Gaster reticulate-punctate with fine but not dense longitudinal striation. Hairs absent from the dorsal surfaces of the head and body, present on the appendages, the anterior portion of the head and mandibles, and the gastral apex.

Type Material
Bolton (1974) - Holotype worker, MADAGASCAR: Isle Ste. Marie, Kalalo (location of type not known). I have not been able to locate the type of this species.