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
(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.

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.

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