Nesomyrmex cataulacoides

Based on the few collections available, this species is strictly arboreal

Identification
Snelling (1992) - A member of the cataulacoides species-group. Worker separable from all previously known sub-Saharan species by the 11-segmented antenna and presence of lateral spines on both petiolar and postpetiolar nodes.

In addition to the characteristics cited in the diagnosis preceding the description this species may be also recognized by the lack of obvious erect hairs on the head and mesosoma, the laterally projecting mesonotum, and the anterior spines on the propodeal dorsum. Because of the laterally subangulate vertex, sharp pronotal humeri, laterally marginate pronotal dorsum, projecting mesonotum and bispinose propodeum, L. catalaucoides is very suggestive of the genus Cataulacus.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Cameroun, Kenya.

Nomenclature

 *  cataulacoides. Leptothorax catalaucoides Snelling, R.R. 1992a: 99, figs. 6-8 (w.) CAMEROUN. Spelling emended to cataulacoides by Bolton, 1995b: 237 (as Snelling misspells the genus-group name Cataulacus as Catalaucus throughout the paper). Combination in Nesomyrmex: Bolton, 2003: 272.

Worker
(mm): HL 0.58-0.60; HW 0.54-0.56; SL 0.38; WL 0.65-0.68; TL 1.73-1.85. Indices: CI 93-98; OI 18-20; SI 65-67.

Mandible with fine, strong longitudinal rugulae. Apical clypeal margin evenly convex and concealing basal tooth of closed mandibles; median clypeal carina weak, no stronger than carinae on either side. Frontal carinae virtually absent, merging with general sculpture before attaining level of middle of eyes. Antennal scrobes absent; antenna 11-segmented, scape relatively short and, when laid back along front of head, ending well below margin of vertex, SL about 0.67 HL. Eye small, greatest diameter about 0.12 mm and about 0.20 HW, with about 10 or 11 ommatidia in longest row. With head in full frontal view, sides above eyes subparallel; margin of vertex broadly and shallowly concave, subangulate laterally.

Pronotal humeri sharply angulate, sides distinctly marginate and convergent behind in dorsal view. Metanotal area, in profile, broadly and very shallowly concave. Propodeum, in dorsal view, with short subbasal spine on each side and long spine-pair at summit of declivity.

Petiole without anterior peduncle; bluntly rounded subpetiolar process present; node in dorsal view, with long spine on each side; node of postpetiole with much thicker spine on each side.

Front and side of head opaque, densely and minutely shagreened between sparse, shallow, obscure foveae, but midline distinctly less sculptured, moderately shiny. Promesonotal dorsum dull, densely shagreened, anteriorly with some short, very weak, more or less longitudinal rugulae; side of mesosoma slightly shiny, especially mesepisternum, surface distinctly, though shallowly, punctulate. Nodes of petiole and postpetiole similar to dorsum of propodeum but slightly shinier. Gastral terga and sterna shiny and smooth except for scattered minute hair pits.

Suberect or erect hairs are short, fine, and inconspicuous, limited to several along ventral margin of mandible and posterior margins of apical gastral segments.

Type Material
Holotype and 16 paratype workers from CAMEROON, Southwest Province: Big Ngwandi, Rumpi Hills, 14-15 November, 1989, collected by D. McKey from internodes of the myrmecophyte, Leonardoxa africana. Holotype and most paratypes in ; paratypes also in and.

Etymology
The specific name combines the suffix –oides (resembling) to the name Cataulacus because of the superficial resemblance to ants of that genus.