Cataulacus mocquerysi

This small and relatively uncommon species nests in hollow twigs on bushes and trees. A nest examined at the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana during August 1970 had been made in a dry, hollow twig on a shrub, and was about 3 inches long by 0.25 inch wide. This contained a queen and seven rather small workers along with a number of brood. The workers wander over the bark and leaves of the tree in which the nest is situated but their feeding habits have not been observed. (Bolton 1974)

Identification
The species is characterized by, and is immediately recognizable because of the unique form of the pedicel segments and the great reduction or virtual loss of the propodeal spines.

Distribution
Known from Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

This taxon was described from Sierra Leone.

Biology
Cataulacus mocquerysi has been observed in the canopy of a secondary-forest tree, in sampling conducted in tree crowns, in Gamba, Gabon. It was anecdotally reported to subordinate at a tuna bait. C. mocquerysi has been shown to exhibit directed movement while in freefall that allows workers that fall or purposely detach from a tree to glide back and regain a hold on the same tree trunk. This gliding behavior is shared with numerous members of the tribe Cephalotini, and other genera as well. (Yanoviak et al. 2005, 2007, 2008)

Nomenclature

 *  mocquerysi. Cataulacus mocquerysi André, 1889: 229 (w.) SIERRA LEONE. Bolton, 1974a: 48 (q.). Senior synonym of nainei: Bolton, 1974a: 47.
 * nainei. Cataulacus mocquerysi var. nainei Forel, 1918a: 724 (w.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. Junior synonym of mocquerysi: Bolton, 1974a: 47.

Worker
Bolton (1974) - TL 4.0 - 5.5, HL 1.00 – 1.40, HW 1.12 – 1.54, CI 110 - 115, EL 0.46 – 0.56, OI 35 - 41, IOD 0.94 – 1.24, SL 0.60 – 0.72, SI 46 - 53, PW 1.02 – 1.48, AL 1.02 – 1.44, MTL 0.56 – 0.60 (10 measured).

Occipital crest absent, the vertex rounding into the occiput_ Occipital corners with one or two small teeth or denticles, the sides of the head behind the eyes denticulate in most but only crenulate in some individuals. Pronotum marginate laterally, the margins with a few rather large denticles and terminating posterolaterally in a flattened and strongly expanded, roughly triangular shaped lobe which bears one or two denticles upon its posterior border. Mesonotum with one or two large denticles laterally. Propodeal spines reduced to a pair of very short teeth or to a pair of denticles which may be shorter than those upon the mesonotum, and which are usually blunt apically. Petiole and postpetiole strongly flattened dorsoventrally, without differentiated nodes. In dorsal view both segments are very broadly and stoutly V-shaped, the postpetiole more distinctly so than the petiole. Subpetiolar process with a distinct posteroventral heel or spur. First gastral tergite not marginate.

Sculpturation of head and dorsal alitrunk of a fine, loose rugoreticulum with reticulate-punctate interspaces. In some individuals the rugulae tend to assume a longitudinal direction, especially upon the head. Dorsum of petiole similarly sculptured or merely reticulate-punctate; the most common form has numerous fine longitudinal rugulae. Postpetiole more coarsely sculptured, usually with coarse rugae directed longitudinally. First gastral tergite finely and densely reticulate-punctate.

Stout, erect hairs present upon all dorsal surfaces of the head, body and appendages.

Queen
Bolton (1974) - TL 6.8, HL 1.54, HW 1.56, CI 101, EL 0.56, OI 36, IOD 1.22, SL 0.76, SI 48, PW 1.44, AL 1.94, MTL 0.86.

Similar to worker but the rugose part of the sculpturation tending to be more coarse everywhere, and the denticulation of the sides of the head and pronotum to be reduced. Propodeum with a pair of bluntly rounded angles.

Type Material
Bolton (1974) - Holotype worker, SIERRA LEONE (MNHN, Paris) [examined].

Cataulacus mocquerysi var. nainei Holotype worker, ZAIRE (H. Kohl) (MHN, Geneva) [examined].

Additional References

 * Yanoviak, S. P., R. Dudley, and M. Kaspari. 2005. Directed aerial descent in canopy ants. Nature. 433:624-626.


 * Yanoviak, S. P., B. L. Fisher, and A. Alonso. 2007. Arboreal ant diversity (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in a central African forest. African Journal of Ecology. 46:60-66.


 * Yanoviak, S. P., B. L. Fisher, and A. Alonso. 2008. Directed aerial descent behavior in African canopy ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Insect Behavior. 21:164-171.