Nesomyrmex cataulacoides

Identification
Snelling (1992) - Worker separable from all previously known sub-Saharan species by the 11-segmented antenna and presence of lateral spines on both petiolar and postpetiolar nodes.

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

Nomenclature

 *  cataulacoides. Leptothorax catalaucoides Snelling, R.R. 1992a: 99, figs. 6-8 (w.) CAMEROUN. Spelling emended to cataulacoides by Bolton, 1995b: 237 (as Snelling misspells the genus-group name Cataulacus as Catalaucus throughout the paper). Combination in Nesomyrmex: Bolton, 2003: 272.

Worker
(mm): HL 0.58-0.60; HW 0.54-0.56; SL 0.38; WL 0.65-0.68; TL 1.73-1.85. Indices: CI 93-98; OI 18-20; SI 65-67.

Mandible with fine, strong longitudinal rugulae. Apical clypeal margin evenly convex and concealing basal tooth of closed mandibles; median clypeal carina weak, no stronger than carinae on either side. Frontal carinae virtually absent, merging with general sculpture before attaining level of middle of eyes. Antennal scrobes absent; antenna 11-segmented, scape relatively short and, when laid back along front of head, ending well below margin of vertex, SL about 0.67 HL. Eye small, greatest diameter about 0.12 mm and about 0.20 HW, with about 10 or 11 ommatidia in longest row. With head in full frontal view, sides above eyes subparallel; margin of vertex broadly and shallowly concave, subangulate laterally.

Pronotal humeri sharply angulate, sides distinctly marginate and convergent behind in dorsal view. Metanotal area, in profile, broadly and very shallowly concave. Propodeum, in dorsal view, with short subbasal spine on each side and long spine-pair at summit of declivity.

Petiole without anterior peduncle; bluntly rounded subpetiolar process present; node in dorsal view, with long spine on each side; node of postpetiole with much thicker spine on each side.

Front and side of head opaque, densely and minutely shagreened between sparse, shallow, obscure foveae, but midline distinctly less sculptured, moderately shiny. Promesonotal dorsum dull, densely shagreened, anteriorly with some short, very weak, more or less longitudinal rugulae; side of mesosoma slightly shiny, especially mesepisternum, surface distinctly, though shallowly, punctulate. Nodes of petiole and postpetiole similar to dorsum of propodeum but slightly shinier. Gastral terga and sterna shiny and smooth except for scattered minute hair pits.

Suberect or erect hairs are short, fine, and inconspicuous, limited to several along ventral margin of mandible and posterior margins of apical gastral segments.