Tanipone cognata

The only known specimen of this species was collected from insecticide fogging of a Euphorbia tree.

Identification
A member of the maculata species group. A single, most intriguing specimen is included under this name. It is large (HL 1.00, HW 0.81), relatively brightly coloured, has a continuous pale band across AIII, and features dense microreticulate ground sculpture on all of its dorsal surfaces. The development of dense, fine microreticulate sculpture suggests this is an ergatoid gyne. The size of the specimen is certainly comparable to a supposed ergatoid of Tanipone maculata (HL 0.98, HW 0.78), but the body colour and uninterrupted apical pale band on AIII appear to make association with that species improbable. The bright colour of the cognata holotype is most closely approached by the workers of aversa, but the characteristic arrangement of setae seen in Tanipone aversa and its close relatives is absent in cognata.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Castes
Only known from a single ergatoid queen.

Nomenclature

 *  cognata. Tanipone cognata Bolton & Fisher, 2012: 86, figs. 92-94 (ergatoid q.) MADAGASCAR.

Queen
HOLOTYPE Putative ergatiod gyne. HL 1.00, HW 0.81, SL 0.46, EL 0.36, PW 0.64, AIIW 0.62, AIIL 0.62, AIIIW 0.76, AIIIL 0.60, WL 1.30, MFL 0.74, CI 81, SI 57, EL/HW 0.44, AIIW/AIIL 1.00, AIIIW/AIIIL 1.27.

Cephalic pilosity and structure of AIII glandular patches as described in definition of maculata group, above. With head in full-face view the side in front of the eye without a laterally projecting seta behind the level of the posterior clypeal margin. Posterior margin of head with 2 setae. Dorsum of pronotum with a single pair of setae at the humeri and a pair on the mesonotum; propodeum without setae. Mesofemur and metafemur in dorsal view without projecting setae on the anterior or posterior surfaces. Ventral surfaces of mesofemur and metafemur each with a single projecting seta, located just distal of the trochanter. Dorsal surface of AII (petiole) with a single pair of setae. Tergite of AIII with two setae anteriorly, each of which is situated well in front of the anterior margin of the glandular patch; without setae on posterior margin. Tergite of AIV with 4 setae anteriorly. Sternites of AIII and AIV with setae present. Cephalic dorsum with scattered shallow punctures; anteriorly on the head their diameters at least equal to the distances between them, but behind the level of the eyes becoming more widely spaced. Spaces between punctures minutely but very conspicuously microreticulate everywhere. Katepisternum with some microsculpture but mostly appearing smooth. Dorsum of mesosoma with small punctures, the spaces between them minutely but distinctly microreticulate everywhere. AII (petiole) in dorsal view appears as broad as long; in profile its tergite appears longer than high. Tergite of AIII microreticulate everywhere except on the glandular patches, and with some small, inconspicuous punctures. The pale band across the apex of AIII tergite is slightly narrowed medially but is not broken by a longitudinal median strip of markedly darker cuticle. Tergite of AIV sparsely punctate, the entire surface blanketed with fine, dense microreticulate surface sculpture; tergites of AV–AVII also densely microreticulate. Head, mesosoma and AII orange, legs brown; AIII to apex dark brown to blackish brown (except for the pale band on AIII).

Type Material
Holotype worker, Madagascar: Ifaty, 23°9’S, 43°37’E, 21.ix.1993, desert scrub forest, pyrethrin fogging of Euphorbia stenoclada, .9356w, BIOTA/CASENT0195405 (W.E. Steiner).