Cataulacus wissmannii

Nothing is known about the biology of Cataulacus wissmannii.

Identification
A member of the intrudens group. Cataulacus wissmanni may be confused with Cataulacus ebrardi, which is certainly closely related. Besides distribution, one of the best separating characters lies in the relative lengths of the alitrunk hairs. In ebrardi they are short and inconspicuous whilst in wissmannii they are very distinct. Also, in the former species the longitudinal rugation occupies only the anterior and posterior quarters of the length of the first gastral tergite, the intervening space being reticulate-punctate; whilst in wissmannii the puncturation on the tergite is usually limited to a patch in the middle of the disc. (Bolton 1974)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania.

Castes

 * Worker

Nomenclature

 *  wissmannii. Cataulacus wissmannii Forel, 1894b: 78 (w.) MOZAMBIQUE. Santschi, 1937a: 61 (q.). Senior synonym of durbanensis, linearis, otii: Bolton, 1974a: 51.
 * otii. Cataulacus wissmanni r. otii Forel, 1901d: 304 (w.q.) SOUTH AFRICA. Raised to species: Santschi, 1914e: 26; Arnold, 1917: 401. Junior synonym of wissmannii: Bolton, 1974a: 51.
 * durbanensis. Cataulacus micans r. durbanensis Forel, 1914d: 219 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA. Arnold, 1917: 395 (q.m.). Junior synonym of wissmannii: Bolton, 1974a: 51.
 * linearis. Cataulacus wissmanni st. linearis Santschi, 1914b: 109, fig. 17 (w.) KENYA. Junior synonym of wissmannii: Bolton, 1974a: 51.

Worker
Bolton (1974) - TL 3.8 – 5.2, HL 0.96 – 1.20, HW 0.96 – 1.20, CI 98 - 104, EL 0.44 – 0.50, OI 41 - 45, IOD 0.74 – 0.90, SL 0.48 – 0.60, SI 50 - 53, PW 0.78 – 1.02, AL 1.06 – 1.50, MTL 0.56 – 0.66 (10 measured).

Occipital crest absent, the two surfaces meeting in an obtuse angle. Occipital corners dentate, with a second short tooth internal to them upon the occipital margin. Sides of head behind eyes strongly convex and denticulate. Sides of pronotum marginate and denticulate, similarly the margins of both the mesonotum and propodeum with denticles. Propodeum bispinose. Mesokatepisternal tooth variously developed; in most individuals large and conspicuous but variable in size even in series from a single nest. Subpetiolar process simple, often without a differentiated posteroventral angle. Subpostpetiolar process weakly developed or virtually absent. First gastral tergite not marginate laterally.

Dorsum of head reticulate-rugose, the rugae usually emphasised in a longitudinal direction, with the interspaces weakly reticulate-punctate. Dorsal alitrunk usually similarly but more finely sculptured except for the propodeum where the longitudinal rugae are more strongly developed. Middle of disc of mesonotum often with the reticulation diminished and the reticulate-punctate sculpturation clearly visible. Petiole and postpetiole longitudinally rugose. First gastral tergite very strongly and often coarsely longitudinally rugose, occasionally throughout its length but more usually with the rugae broken in the middle of the disc and replaced by a fine reticulate-puncturation. All dorsal surfaces with numerous, very conspicuous, relatively long, simple hairs.

Queen
Bolton (1974) - TL 5.4 – 6.0, HL 1.14 – 1.22, HW 1.10 – 1.22, CI 97 – l00, EL 0.48 – 0.50, OI 41 -43, IOD 0.84 - 0.90, SL 0.54 – 0.62, SI 49 - 51, PW 1.02 – 1.10, AL 1.50 – 1.76, MTL 0.62 – 0.72 (2 measured).

As worker but with the denticulation of the sides of the head behind the eyes and the margins of the alitrunk reduced, on the latter to very small, triangular prominences. Propodeal spines short, blunt.

Type Material
Bolton (1974):

Holotype worker, MOZAMBIQUE: 9.xi.1890 (A. Muller) (MHN, Geneva) [examined].

Cataulacus wissmanni race otii Syntype workers, female, SOUTH AFRICA: Natal, Durban (Haviland) (MHN, Geneva) [examined].

Cataulacus wissmanni st. linearis Syntype workers, KENYA: Voi, in the Wa-Taita (st. no. 60), 600 m, and Mbuyuni, in Pori (st. no. 63), iii. 1912 (Alluaud & Jeannel) (NM, Basle) [examined].

Cataulacus micans race durbanensis Holotype worker, SOUTH AFRICA: Natal, Durban, 15.i.19I4 (G. Arnold) (MHN, Geneva) [examined].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Arnold G. 1917. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part III. Myrmicinae. Annals of the South African Museum. 14: 271-402.
 * Bolton B. 1974. A revision of the Palaeotropical arboreal ant genus Cataulacus F. Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 30: 1-105.
 * Bolton B. 1982. Afrotropical species of the myrmicine ant genera Cardiocondyla, Leptothorax, Melissotarsus, Messor and Cataulacus (Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 45: 307-370.
 * Forel A. 1914. Formicides d'Afrique et d'Amérique nouveaux ou peu connus. Bulletin de la Société Vaudoise des Sciences Naturelles 50: 211-288.
 * Garcia F.H., Wiesel E. and Fischer G. 2013.The Ants of Kenya (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)Faunal Overview, First Species Checklist, Bibliography, Accounts for All Genera, and Discussion on Taxonomy and Zoogeography. Journal of East African Natural History, 101(2): 127-222
 * IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
 * 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