Acropyga bakwele

Only known from the type material, collected from leaf litter in rainforest.

Identification
LaPolla and Fisher (2005) - 8-toothed mandible; mandibular apical tooth about twice as along as other teeth; median ocellus present; total length > 3 mm.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Gabon.

Castes
Queens and Males of the species are unknown.

Nomenclature

 *  bakwele. Acropyga bakwele LaPolla & Fisher, 2005: 602, figs. 1-4 (w.) GABON.

Worker
Overall appearance similar to Acropyga arnoldi and Acropyga silvestrii, see LaPolla (2004) for details of these two species. Head: reddish-yellow; head slightly longer than wide; covered in a thick layer of appressed hairs, with short erect hairs along posterior margin; posterior margin slightly concave medially; median ocellus present; eyes relatively large for an Acropyga (ca. 10 facets) and placed at lower ¼ of head; 11-segmented, incrassate antennae; scape surpasses posterior margin by about half length of pedicel; scape with thick layer of appressed hairs, scattered erect hairs throughout; clypeus slightly convex medially; mandible broad, with six distinct teeth; mandibular basal angle distinct, but not forming seventh tooth; apical tooth twice as long as other teeth. Mesosoma: reddish-yellow; in lateral view, pronotum with short anterior shelf; dorsum covered in layer of appressed hairs, with scattered erect to suberect hairs throughout; metanotal area distinct; propodeum rounded; declivity steep. Gaster: petiole think and erect, with erect hairs; gaster reddish-yellow, with thick layer of appressed hairs and scattered erect to suberect hairs throughout.

Measurements = (Holotype worker) TL: 3.24; HL: 0.902; HW: 0.870; SL: 0.751; ML:1.069; GL: 1.272; CI: 96.45; SI: 86.32.

Etymology
The species epithet, bakwele, is in honor of the Bakwele pygmies who assisted BLF during his fieldwork in Gabon.