Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) massinissa Wheeler
Type locality Zaïre (Wheeler, 1922: 244, queen; as a
member of subgenus Dinomyrmex not illustrated); female only
described (see Bolton, 1995)
.
Wheeler's description is -
FEMALE - TL nearly 21 mm. Head as broad as long (4.5mm, without the
mandibles), subrectangular, slightly broader behind than in front,
with straight sides, feebly but broadly concave posterior border, and
rather acute posterior corners. Mandibles large and convex, with 6
flattened, acuminate teeth, the apical tooth very long and broad at
the base. Clypeus carinate only at the base, its anterior border
emarginate on each side, the median lobe indistinct, somewhat crenate,
without pronounced corners, with a small notch in the middle. Frontal
area small, subtriangular, impressed. Frontal carinae closely
approximated. Antennae long; scapes measuring 6.2 mm, extending half
their length beyond the posterior corners of the head, not flattened
at the base nor enlarged distally. Thorax robust, through the
wing-insertions broader than the head. Mesonotum broader than long,
with a narrow, shining, median, longitudinal groove on its anterior
half. Propodeum sloping, evenly convex. Petiole higher than long,
rather pointed above, its anterior surface made of two subequal planes
which meet at a very blunt obtuse angle when seen in profile; the
posterior surface flat, the superior border blunt. Hind tibiae and
metatarsi distinctly flattened and channelled, the flexor border of
the former with a row of strong bristles, except on their basal
fourth. Mandibles shining, coarsely punctate, striate near their
apical borders, opaque, finely shagreened and less coarsely punctate
at the base. Head and clypeus nearly opaque, densely and finely
punctate, with coarser, sparse, piligerous punctures over the whole
surface. Thorax and petiole with similar sculpture, but the piligerous
punctures less pronounced. Gaster more shining, densely, coarsely and
transversely shagreened, with coarse, scattered, transverse,
piligerous punctures. Antennal scapes and legs shining, rather
strongly and unevenly punctate. Hairs fulvous, coarse, erect or
suberect, long and abundant, especially on the head, gula, dorsal
portion of the pronotum, mesonotum, propodeum, and fore coxae.
Antennal scapes also with long erect hairs; those on the tibiae
stiffer, much shorter and more oblique. Black; mandibles except their
bases and teeth, deep red; insertions of antennae, funiculi beyond the
tip of the first joint, thoracic articulations, trochanters, and tips
of coxae yellowish; gaster and legs castaneous. Wings heavily
infuscated, blackish, with dark brown veins.
A single specimen from Medje (Lang and Chapin), without further
data. This female is so easily recognized and so peculiar in its
characters that I do not hesitate to describe it as new. It certainly
does not belong to any of the workers in the collection and I am
unable to regard it as the female of any of the Ethiopian species of
Dinomyrmex that have been described from workers only.
|