Crematogaster gerstaeckeri

Taylor et al., (2018) records this species nesting in dead wood on trees, including cocoa (rarely), and tending aphids.

Identification
A member of the Crematogaster castanea group.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Benin, Kenya.

Nomenclature

 * cephalotes. Crematogaster cephalotes Gerstäcker, 1871: 356 (w.q.) KENYA.
 * Type-material: syntype workers, syntype queens (numbers not stated).
 * Type-locality: Kenya: nr Mombasa (v.d. Decken).
 * Type-depository: MNHU.
 * [Junior primary homonym of Crematogaster cephalotes Smith, F. 1857a: 75.]
 * Replacement name: Crematogaster gerstaeckeri Dalla Torre, 1892: 90.
 * . Crematogaster gerstaeckeri Dalla Torre, 1892: 90.
 * Replacement name for Crematogaster cephalotes Gerstäcker, 1871: 356. [Junior primary homonym of Crematogaster cephalotes Smith, F. 1857a: 75.]
 * Menozzi, 1930b: 94 (m.).
 * Combination in C. (Crematogaster): Wheeler, 1922a: 838;
 * combination in C. (Acrocoelia): Emery, 1922e: 147;
 * combination in C. (Crematogaster): Bolton, 1995b: 166.
 * Status as species: Dalla Torre, 1893: 82; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 838; Emery, 1922e: 147; Santschi, 1930b: 69; Menozzi, 1930b: 91 (redescription); Prins, 1963: 102; Bolton, 1995b: 153; Hita Garcia, et al. 2013: 210.
 * Distribution: Kenya, Somalia, South Africa, Uganda.
 * Current subspecies: nominal plus godefreyi, infaceta, inquieta, kohliella, maledicta, oraclum, pudica, pulla, rufescens, sjostedti, zulu.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * 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
 * Medler J. T. 1980: Insects of Nigeria - Check list and bibliography. Mem. Amer. Ent. Inst. 30: i-vii, 1-919.
 * Menozzi C. 1930. Formiche della Somalia italiana meridionale. Memorie della Società Entomologica Italiana. 9: 76-130.
 * Prins A. J. 1963. A list of the ants collected in the Kruger National Park with notes on their distribution. Koedoe 6: 91-108.
 * Prins A. J., and J. J. Cillie. 1968. The ants collected in the Hluhluwe and Umfolozi game reserves. The Lammergeyer 8: 40-47.
 * Soulié J., and L. D. Dicko. 1965. La répartition des genres de fourmis de la tribu des "Cremastogastrini" dans la faune éthiopienne et malgache. Hymenoptera - Formicoidea - Myrmicidae. Ann. Univ. Abidjan Sér. Sci. 1: 85-106.
 * Stanton, M.L., T.M. Palmer and T.P. Young. 2002. Competition-Colonization Trade-Offs in a Guild of African Acacia-Ants. Ecological Monographs 72(3):347-363
 * Stanton, M.L., T.M. Palmer and T.P. Young. 2005. Ecological barriers to early colony establishment in three coexisting acacia-ant species in Kenya. Insectes Sociaux 52:393-401
 * Taylor B. 1979. Ants of the Nigerian Forest Zone (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). III. Myrmicinae (Cardiocondylini to Meranoplini). Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria Research Bulletin 6: 1-65.
 * Taylor B., N. Agoinon, A. Sinzogan, A. Adandonon, Y. N'Da Kouagou, S. Bello, R. Wargui, F. Anato, I. Ouagoussounon, H. Houngbo, S. Tchibozo, R. Todjhounde, and J. F. Vayssieres. 2018. Records of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Republic of Benin, with particular reference to the mango farm ecosystem. Journal of Insect Biodiversity 8(1): 006–029.
 * 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