Cataulacus ebrardi

An adaptable, widespread Madagascar species that is found in many different habitats.

Identification
A member of the intrudens group.

Regional Cataulacus Key

Distribution
This taxon was described, and is only known, from Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 *  ebrardi. Cataulacus ebrardi Forel, 1886c: cv (w.) MADAGASCAR. Forel, 1910a: 20 (q.). See also: Bolton, 1974a: 41.

Worker
Bolton (1974) - TL 4.0 – 4.4, HL 1.00 – 1.08, HW 0.96 – 1.06, CI 96 - 98, EL 0.42 – 0.44, OI 41 - 44, IOD 0.78 – 0.86, SL 0.48 – 0.54, SI 50 - 51, PW 0.82 – 0.90, AL 1.12 – 1.20, MTL 0.50 – 0.56 (2 measured).

Occipital crest absent although the vertex is separated from the occipital surface by an obtuse angle. Occipital corners dentate and with a single tooth upon the occipital margin close to this on each side. Sides of head behind eyes denticulate. Sides of pro- and mesonotum marginate, sparsely denticulate; the mesonotal margins gradually convergent posteriorly but without a marked narrowing immediately behind the pronotum. Sides of propodeum with one or two blunt denticles; the spines quite narrow, short and acute. Dorsal alitrunk completely without sutures. Anteromedian subpostpetiolar process absent. First gastral tergite not marginate laterally.

Dorsum of head with a fine rugoreticulum with reticulate-punctate interspaces. Dorsal alitrunk similarly but much more loosely sculptured on the pronotum, rather more coarsely so upon the propodeum. Mesonotal disc without rugulae, only finely reticulate-punctate, although some fine rugulae may be present towards the lateral margins of the sclerite. Base of first gastral tergite with numerous longitudinal rugae which, however, fade out in the first quarter of the length of the segment and are replaced over the next half of its length by a fine, distinct reticulate-puncturation. This in its turn is replaced on the posterior quarter of the segment by a regular, close, longitudinal rugulation or sulcation.

Erect hairs present upon all dorsal surfaces but on the head and alitrunk they are very short and inconspicuous. On the alitrunk the hairs are longer on the propodeum than on the pronotum. Gastral hairs conspicuous.

Type Material
Bolton (1974) - Syntype workers, MADAGASCAR: Moroudava (M,  Grandidier) (MHN, Geneva) [examined]. The female of this species was described by Forel (1910a:20) from the Amber Mountains of Madagascar but this specimen could not be located during the present study.