Technomyrmex andrei

The largest, most obvious and most widely distributed leaf litter species of Technomyrmex throughout the wet forest zones of the Afrotropical region. It is locally abundant in litter samples throughout west and central Africa and is one of the most commonly collected species of the genus in this region. It nests in and under rotten wood on the forest floor and forages widely in the leaf litter layer but is not known to ascend trees. (Bolton 2007)

Identification
Bolton (2007) - The strikingly coloured legs, combined with its setal distribution, emarginate c1ypeus, posteriorly located eyes and size make andrei one of the most easily recognized African Technomyrmex species. Its worke.rs show considerable variation in size and weak allometric variation is present: as HW Increases then CI Increases but SI decreases.

The closest relatives of andrei are Technomyrmex parandrei and Technomyrmex metandrei. Both are certainly much rarer and much more limited in distribution. Both species share the general appearance of andrei but are distinctly differently coloured, as discussed under their respective headings.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Angola, Cameroun, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Uganda.

Nomenclature

 *  andrei. Technomyrmex andrei Emery, 1899e: 488, fig. (w.) GABON. Bernard, 1953b: 255 (q.). Senior synonym of allecta, schereri, wolfi, zumpti: Bolton, 2007a: 19.
 * schereri. Technomyrmex andrei var. schereri Forel, 1911e: 283 (w.) LIBERIA. Junior synonym of andrei: Bolton, 2007a: 19.
 * allecta. Engramma allecta Stitz, 1916: 394, fig. 9 (w.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. Combination in Technomyrmex: Shattuck, 1992c: 160. Junior synonym of andrei: Bolton, 2007a: 19.
 * wolfi. Engramma wolfi Forel, 1916: 432, fig. 1 (w.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 204 (q.m.). Combination in Technomyrmex: Shattuck, 1992c: 161. Junior synonym of andrei: Bolton, 2007a: 19.
 * zumpti. Technomyrmex zumpti Santschi, 1937b: 102 (m.) CAMEROUN. Junior synonym of andrei: Bolton, 2007a: 19.

Worker
Bolton (2007) - TL 2.7 - 4.3, HL 0.72 - 1.06, HW 0.61 - 0.98, SL 0.78 - l.08, PW 0.44 - 0.66, WL 1.04 - 1.50 (35 measured). Indices: CI 82 - 95, SI 102 - 130, OI 25 - 30, EPI 85 - 100, DTI 144-156.

Dorsum of head behind clypeus entirely lacks setae. With head in full-face view the eyes located relatively posteriorly (EPI at least 85 and usually more) and their outer margins fail to break the outline of the sides. Anterior clypeal margin with a conspicuous broad median excavation or notch; inner margin of notch meets the more lateral portions of the anterior c1ypeal margin through rounded curves, not marked angles. Posterior margin of head with a marked median impression or emargination. Dorsum of mesosoma and declivity of propodeum entirely lack setae. First gastral tergite without setae but long stiff setae are present on gastral tergites 2 - 4, the longest of them longer than the maximum diameter of the eye. Dotsal surfaces of pronotum, mesonotum and propodeum finely and densely reticulate-punctate, usually quite sharply so but sculpture less strongly incised in some samples. Head, mesosoma, petiole and gaster more or less uniformly dark brown to black. Front legs with coxa the same colour as the mesosoma or nearly so; femur, tibia and tarsus the same or lighter, but the trochanter strikingly paler, white to yellow. Middle and hind legs with coxae, trochanters and basal one-quarter to one-third of femora white to yellow; remainder of femora darker except for apices; tibiae same colour as darker part of femora to uniformly paler than femora; tarsi yellow.

Type Material
Bolton (2007) - Holotype worker, Gabon: Ogoue (E. Andre) [examined].