Technomyrmex laurenti

Nest sites seem usually to be in the domatia of myrmecophytes, although its exclusive use of such sites has not been confirmed. Among the material examined for this study laurenti  has been recorded from domatia in the genera Leonardoxa , Scaphopetalum, Cola , Plectronia  and Delpydora  (for earlier records see Wheeler J 922; McKey, 1984; Holldobler & Wilson, 1990). It has also been found in modified leaves of a Diospyros species, as well as foraging freely on other vegetation and on the ground. (Bolton 2007)

Identification
Bolton (2007) - T. laurenti  is a very distinct, strikingly size-variable species with some allometric variation. Variations in colour and colour pattern are extensive. Because this variation occurs against a fixed suite of very obvious strong characters colour is not awarded any taxonomic significance here. The few queens examined all have light middle and hind coxae, regardless of the coxal colour of their workers.

The head shape of laurenti , with its small eyes, emarginate clypeus, deeply excised posterior margin, short scapes, and the overall short, stocky build, are all reminiscent of Technomyrmex lujae, but the latter species entirely lacks setae on the dorsal head and body, as well as having a reduced palp formula of 4,3; T. laurenti  has PF 6,4, the usual count in the genus.

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

Nomenclature

 *  laurenti. Tapinoma laurenti Emery, 1899e: 487 (w.q.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. Combination in Engramma: Emery, 1913a: 38; in Technomyrmex: Shattuck, 1992c: 161. Senior synonym of congolensis, kohli: Bolton, 2007a: 25.
 * congolensis. Engramma laurenti var. congolensis Forel, 1916: 431 (w.q.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. Combination in Technomyrmex: Shattuck, 1992c: 161. Junior synonym of laurenti: Bolton, 2007a: 25.
 * kohli. Engramma kohli Forel, 1916: 429 (w.q.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. Combination in Technomyrmex: Shattuck, 1992c: 161. Junior synonym of laurenti: Bolton, 2007a: 25.

Worker
Bolton (2007) - TL 1.8 - 4.0, HL 0.55 - 1.08, HW 0.52 - 1.08, SL 0.40 - 0.64, PW 0.30 - 0.57, WL 0.52 - 1.06 (25 measured). Indices: CI 94 - 102, SI 58 - 77, or 18 - 21, EPI 60 - 80, DTI 104 - 127.

Frontal carina with 2 4 setae: in profile the posteriormost at the level of the posterior margin of the eye. Behind this the cephalic dorsum to the posterior margin lacks setae but the posterior margin itself with 4 - 6 setae across its width. Head broad and strongly cordate in fun-face view, with a deeply cleft, broadly V-shaped posterior margin (which becomes more extensive as worker size increases); sides convex and converging anteriorly. Eyes relatively small and located in front of midlength (EPI 80 or less, decreasing as worker size increases), outer margins of eyes conspicuously fail to break the outline of the sides. Clypeus broad, with an anterior apron and a conspicuous median notch that is sharply defined and usually approximately semicircular; inner margin of notch meets the anterior clypeal margin in a fight-angle or near fight-angle on each side. Scape relatively short, SI 77 or less (81 decreases with increased size so that smallest workers have highest SI). Funicular segments 2 - 8 about as broad as long or slightly broader than long. Mesosoma stocky, short and compact (DTI, above). Dorsal surfaces of pronotum and mesonotum, and declivity of propodeum, each with several pairs of setae present. Gastral tergites 1 - 4 each with numerous setae, the longest of them usually about equal in length to the maximum diameter of the eye, though samples may occur with these setae slightly longer or shorter. Colour very variable; dorsum of head and mesosoma may be uniformly coloured or have areas of lighter and darker cuticle. Lightest samples have a dull yellow head and mesosoma with the gaster very rarely the same colour, usually slightly to considerably darker, pale brown to very dark brown. Petiole and middle and hind coxae may be same colour as mesosoma or slightly to distinctly lighter. lntennediate shades occur through to the darkest samples, which are unifonnly dark brown, sometimes with the petiole and middle and hind coxae distinctly lighter.

Type Material
Bolton (2007) - Syntype workers and queens, Democratic Republic of Congo: no loc. (Laurent) [not seen] and Cameroun: no loc. (Conradt).