Simopone dryas

Identification
Key to Afrotropical Simopone Species

This small species has relatively small eyes that are located farther forward on the head capsule than any other known member of the schoutedeni species group.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Kenya.

Nomenclature

 *  dryas. Simopone dryas Bolton & Fisher, 2012: 24, figs. 10-12 (w.) KENYA.

Worker
Holotype. HL 0.89, HW 0.57, SL 0.26, EL 0.24, PW 0.44, AIIW 0.43, AIIL 0.44, AIIIW 0.49, AIIIL 0.60, WL 1.00, MFL 0.48, CI 64, SI 46, EL/HW 0.42, EP 0.68, AIIW/AIIL 0.98, AIIIW/AIIIL 0.82.

With head in full-face view the midpoints of the outer margins of the eyes just touch the outlines of the sides of the head. Eyes located relatively far in front of midlength of head, EP 0.68. ES 0.21 and width of head across broadest part of eyes 0.55; minimum distance between eyes 0.24. Frontal carinae extend back to level of anterior margins of eyes and are weakly divergent posteriorly. Cephalic dorsum with scattered broad, shallow punctures. Sparse weak longitudinal ground sculpture also present in places between the eyes, but this fades out and vanishes behind the level of the posterior margins of the eyes. Leading edge of scape with a few setae, inclined toward the scape apex. Sides of head below and behind eyes with projecting short setae, inclined anteriorly. Cephalic dorsum with numerous curved setae. Mesosoma in dorsal view narrowest across the mesonotum (maximum width 0.40), broadest across the propodeum (maximum width 0.44). Pronotum marginate anteriorly; promesonotal suture almost effaced. Propodeum with a fine weak carina between dorsum and declivity. Entire dorsum of mesosoma with broad, shallow punctures that are irregularly spaced. Mesopleuron almost smooth, with just 1–2 punctures and a distinct transverse sulcus. In profile, dorsal surfaces of mesosoma and all abdominal tergites with numerous short, posteriorly curved setae that are subdecumbent to decumbent and densest on AII and AIII. Standing short setae are sparsely present on middle and hind tibiae. AII (petiole) in dorsal view with a weak transverse carina both anteriorly and posteriorly; sides almost parallel, only extremely feebly convex, the width across the anterior margin is almost the same as across the posterior margin. Dorsum of AII with scattered, shallow punctures; tergite of AIII with similar but more densely crowded punctures. On the tergite of AIV punctures are smaller than on AIII but are about of equal density. AII and AIII longer than broad, AIII distinctly so; AIV slightly broader than long (width 0.58, length 0.56). Head capsule and body blackish brown to black; scapes and funiculi dull yellow; legs yellowish brown to light brown, the femora slightly darker than the tibiae.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Kenya: Kakamega Distr., Isecheno, Kakamega Forest, 0.24°N, 34.86°E, 1600 m, 22.iv.2003, #03-109, equatorial rainforest: in live stem of plant [the word “plant” is overwritten by a partially legible entry “…..caena”, perhaps Dracaena], CASENT0178216 (R.R. Snelling).