Axinidris hylekoites

This species is known only from the several type specimens collected from a nest in a rotten tree branch.

Identification
Most similar to Axinidris murielae but differs in the lighter body color.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Ghana.

Castes
Males have yet to be collected.

Nomenclature

 *  hylekoites. Axinidris hylekoites Shattuck, 1991: 114, figs. 14-16, 35 (w.q.) GHANA. See also: Snelling, R.R. 2007: 560.

Worker
(n=4). OOD 0.25-0.27, EL 0.18-0.19, HL 0.76-0.79, EW 0.10, HW 0.69, CNW 0.05-0.07, CND 0.05-0.08, SL 0.57-0.61, AL 0.71-0.92, PpW 0.32-0.33, SW 0.23-0.26, CI 0.88-0.91, CNI 0.77-1.19, REL 0.25-0.28, ScI 0.83-0.88, SpI 1.47-1.49.

Erect or suberect hairs present on the antennal scapes; body colour reddish yellow; HW between 0.60 and 0.75; CNI <1.40.

Head very finely colliculate to imbricate, superimposed with large, widely spaced punctures and weak scabriculous sculpturing; area near the mandibular insertion with a narrow area of strigulate sculpturing. Head with numerous scattered, erect hairs on dorsal surface from the occipital border to the anterior clypeal margin. Erect or suberect hairs present on the antennal scapes. Entire pronotum and anterodorsal region of mesonotum smooth, remainder of mesonotum moderately imbricate, and the entire propodeum finely punctate. Dorsum of the pronotum with 6-8 erect hairs. Propodeal spiracles as in A. tridens. Medial propodeal carina expanded dorsally, less so posteroventrally, and beginning even with a line drawn between the propodeal spiracles and extending posteriorly to near the petiolar insertion. Propodeal spines projecting posteriorly with the outer surfaces generally flat (sometimes weakly concave), the distal ends narrower than the width of the propodeum, and the area between them more or less flat. Erect hairs present on gastric tergites 2, 3 and 4. Body colour reddish yellow with the head slightly darker; mandibles reddish brown basally, turning yellow distally; tarsi pale yellow.

Queen
(n=l). OOD 0.29, EL 0.22, HL 0.86, EW 0.11, HW 0.74, CNW 0.07, CND 0.07, SL 0.59, AL 1.16, PpW 0.44, SW 0.33, CI 1.16, CNI 1.00, REL 0.29, ScI 0.80, SpI 1.34.

Differing from the worker in its larger size, presence of ocelli, and the enlarged thorax. Other characters as in the worker. Although the single known specimen is dealate, it was apparently fully winged.

Type Material
Holotype worker, and three worker and one queen paratype for GHANA: Tafo (B.Bolton).