Lepisiota validiuscula

This seems to be a very abundant species in western Yemen. It is recorded from East and South Africa but has not yet been found in Arabia outside Yemen. (Collingwood and Agosti 1996)

Seemingly uncommon but widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa. Recorded and illustrated from Nigeria by Taylor (1978, as Acantholepis species T¹), who found it occasionally on cocoa, probably nesting in the soil and building tents of vegetable matter around Pseudococcids. (Taylor et al., 2018)

Identification
Collingwood and Agosti (1996) - HW 0.59-0.63; SI 125-135. easily distinguished from Lepisiota canescens by the stout black dorsal hairs.

Taylor et al. (2018) note that this species is somewhat stockier than the Lepisiota capensis type; propodeal prominences more pronounced; scape surpasses occiput by ca 1/2 its own length; longer coarser and more abundant erect pilosity; dark brown, appendages brown, scape ochreous-yellow.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Namibia, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Zimbabwe.

Nomenclature

 *  validiuscula. Acantholepis capensis var. validiuscula Emery, 1897e: 602 (w.) SOMALIA. Arnold, 1920a: 570 (q.m.). Combination in Lepisiota: Bolton, 1995b: 229. Raised to species: Collingwood & Agosti, 1996: 369.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Arnold G. 1920. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part IV. Myrmicinae. Annals of the South African Museum. 14: 403-578.
 * IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
 * 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. 1964. Revised list of the ants collected in the Kruger National Park. Koedoe 7: 77-93.
 * Santschi F. 1937. Résultats de la Mission scientifique suisse en Angola (2me voyage) 1932-1933. Fourmis angolaises. Revue Suisse de Zoologie. 44: 211-250.
 * Stitz H. 1923. Hymenoptera, VII. Formicidae. Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Land- und Süsswasserfauna Deutsch-Südwestafrikas 2: 143-167.
 * 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.
 * Weber N. A. 1943. The ants of the Imatong Mountains, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 93: 263-389.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1922. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. II. The ants collected by the American Museum Congo Expedition. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45: 39-269.
 * 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