Simopone annettae

Identification
Key to Afrotropical Simopone Workers / Key to Known Afrotropical Simopone Queens

A member of the schoutedeni species group

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Cameroun, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana.

Nomenclature

 *  annettae. Simopone annettae Kutter, 1976b: 273, figs. 1-8 (q.) CAMEROUN. Bolton & Fisher, 2012: 18, figs. 1-3 (w.q.).

Worker
Bolton and Fisher (2012) - PUTATIVE WORKER (not previously described). HL 0.79–0.86, HW 0.50–0.59, SL 0.23–0.28, EL 0.26–0.30, PW 0.39–0.45, AIIW 0.38–0.46, AIIL 0.37–0.44, AIIIW 0.45–0.56, AIIIL 0.46–0.56, WL 0.90–1.04, MFL 0.40– 0.46, CI 65–69, SI 43–48, EL/HW 0.48–0.51, EP 0.90–1.00, AIIW/AIIL 1.03–1.07, AIIIW/AIIIL 0.96–1.02 (5 measured).

With head in full-face view the outlines of the outer margins of the eyes fractionally fail to interrupt, or at most just interrupt, the outlines of the sides of the head at their midlength. ES 0.23–0.26 and width of head across broadest part of eyes 0.52–0.58. Frontal carinae extend back to level of anterior margins of eyes and are weakly divergent posteriorly. Cephalic dorsum with scattered broad, shallow punctures. Conspicuous ground sculpture is present between the eyes, organised into roughly longitudinal fine costulae or striolae between the punctures; ground sculpture fades out behind the level of the eyes. Leading edge of scape with a few setae, inclined toward the scape apex. Sides of head below and behind eyes with projecting short setae, inclined anteriorly. Cephalic dorsum with numerous short, curved setae and with a few pairs of longer setae present; longest setae occur on the frontal carinae and above the eye. Ventral surface of head with short setae. Mesosoma in dorsal view narrowest across the mesonotum (maximum width 0.37–0.46), broadest across the propodeum (maximum width 0.39–0.48). Anterior margin of pronotum weakly marginate. Propodeum with a fine weak carina between dorsum and declivity. Entire dorsum of mesosoma with widely spaced broad, shallow punctures. Mesopleuron with a few punctures and a distinct transverse sulcus. Propodeal declivity smooth except for a narrow band of disorganised superficial sculpture immediately below the dorsal carina. In profile, dorsal surfaces of mesosoma and all abdominal tergites with numerous posteriorly curved setae. Standing setae present on middle and hind tibiae. AII (petiole) in dorsal view with a weak transverse carina both anteriorly and posteriorly, the sides convex, broadest behind the midlength; the width across the anterior margin is somewhat less than across the posterior margin. Dorsum of AII with large, shallow punctures whose diameters are mostly equal to or greater than the distances that separate them. On tergite of AIII the punctures are of similar size but slightly more crowded, so that some are adjacent. AII broader than long, AIII about as broad as long, AIV distinctly broader than long (width 0.44–0.60, length 0.47–0.54; AIVW/AIVL 1.19–1.24). Head capsule and body black; scapes and funiculi light brown; femora and tibiae brown.

Queen
Bolton and Fisher (2012) - (alate gyne). Answers the description of the worker and is about the same size, but winged and with a full complement of flight sclerites. HL 0.90, HW 0.61, SL 0.29, EL 0.30, PW 0.49, AIIW 0.47, AIIL 0.45, AIIIW 0.56, AIIIL 0.63, CI 68, SI 48, EL/HW 0.49, EP 1.18, AIIW/AIIL 1.04, AIIIW/AIIIL 0.89; mesoscutum maximum width 0.52, mesoscutum maximum length 0.32.

Type Material
Bolton and Fisher (2012) - Holotype queen (alate), Cameroun: Fo-Tabe (9° 35’ östl. Länge, 5° 31’ nördl. Breite), 11.i.1937 (H. Kutter) [examined].