Technomyrmex rusticus

Known only from what are believed to be two intercaste type specimens that were mistakenly described as workers.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Democratic Republic of Congo.

Nomenclature

 *  rusticus. Technomyrmex rusticus Santschi, 1930a: 72, figs. 43-45 (w-q intercaste, not w.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. See also: Bolton, 2007a: 33.

Worker-Queen Intercaste
Bolton (2007) - TL 3.7, HL 0.80, HW 0.79, SL 0.67, PW 0.56, WL 1.12. Indices: CI 99, SI 85, OI 32, EPI 63, DTI 132.

Frontal carina with a single seta: in profile at the level of the anterior portion of the eye; head posterior to this entirely lacks setae. Anterior clypeal margin with an extremely weak median concavity. Posterior margin of head shallowly impressed medially. Three small ocelli present. In full-face view the relatively large eye breaks the outline of the side of the head. Prominent fine elevated pubescence dense on the dorsal head and in full-face view clearly projecting from the sides both in front of and behind the eyes. Leading edge of scape with similar elevated pubescence but without setae. Dorsal mesosoma with fine dense pubescence but without setae. Lateral margins of propodeal declivity with 3 pairs of setae. Mesonotum separated into a large mesoscutum and a small but clearly differentiated mesoscutellum, conspicuous both in profile and in dorsal view. A narrow but elevated and prominent metanotum is present. Gastral tergites 1 - 3 without setae, tergite 4 with two pairs of setae present. Colour of head, mesosoma, petiole, gaster and all leg segments a very uniform dark brown.

It was thought that the lack of setae on gastral tergites 1 - 3 could be due to abrasion, but setal sockets have not been detected and distinct setae and their sockets remain on tergite 4, so lack of setae on tergites 1 - 3 must be considered as normal.

Type Material
Bolton (2007) - Syntype worker-queen intercaste (not worker), Democratic Republic of Congo: Kunungu, 4.iv.1921 (H. Schouteden) [examined].

The surviving syntype, of an original two of this taxon, is a worker-queen intercaste, not a worker as stated in the original description. Small but distinct ocelli are present and the mesosoma has a differentiated mesoscutum and mesoscutellum, as well as a small but well-defined and prominent metanotum. From Santschi's (1930a) comments and figures I suspect that both were intercastes. The type-locality of Technomyrmex rusticus is the same as one of the series of moerens nigricans and the two samples were collected only two days apart, but because of the radically different distribution of setae between intercastes of moerens and rusticus, and other characters, I doubt that the latter is conspecific with the former.