The Ants of Africa
SUBFAMILY MYRMICINAE - Genus Atopomyrmex
Contents - Myrmicinae - MYRMICINAE Introduction

Genus Atopomyrmex André (1889: 226)

In Tribe FORMICOXENINI.

Diagnostic Features - Polymorphic. Antennae 9-segmented with short stout scape and thickly clavate flagellum (calpocalycola), or 12-segmented, with slender scape, longer flagellum and 3-segmented club. Eyes well developed, flat and situated on the posterior half of the head. Pronotum marginate laterally but this may be relatively indistinct (calpocalycola), promesonotal suture absent (except in small workers of calpocalycola). Mesonotum bituberculate behind (missing in calpocalycola). Metanotal groove impressed, propodeum armed with a pair of long spines. Petiole with a pair of dorsal spines (missing in calpocalycola).

André's (1899) genus description is at {original description}. Arnold (1916: 171) gave a translation of the genus description; this is at {original description}. Santschi (1925h: 163) provided a key to separate cryptoceroides and mocquerysi and various varieties; this is at {original description}.

Revised by Bolton (1981b), who gave only two species, crypteroceroides and mocquerysi. A further species, calpocalcycola, was added by Snelling (1992), who commented that it was distinctive enough for it perhaps to have been placed in a separate new genus. All three species are arboreal.

Separation of species

1 {short description of image}Generally smaller; major no more than 7.0 mm; petiole without spines calpocalycola
2 {short description of image}Sides of head smooth and shiny except for fine sparse puncturation; scape long almost reaching occiput; propodeal spines with angular bases in dorsal view; propodeal spiracle large and set some quite close to the margin of the declivity cryptoceroides
3 {short description of image}Head with distinct longitudinal striation, especially anteriorly on clypeus and between the eyes; sides of head with dense reticulo-puncturation; scape shorter reaching about 3/4 point of head; propodeal spines more slender and smoothly curved in dorsal view; propodeal spiracle smaller and set some distance from the margin of the declivity mocquerysi
Contents MYRMICINAE Introduction
© 2007 - Brian Taylor CBiol FIBiol FRES
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