Simopone fulvinodis

Simopone fulvinodis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Dorylinae
Genus:	Simopone
Species group:	schoutedeni
Species:	S. fulvinodis
Binomial name
Simopone fulvinodis Santschi, 1923 Specimen Labels

Known only from the holotype.

Identification

The striking colour pattern of fulvinodis, still known only from its holotype, renders the species immediately recognisable, not just in the schoutedeni group but throughout the genus. The pilosity of fulvinodis is very reduced by comparison with other members of the group, but the possibility that the holotype may have suffered some abrasion must be borne in mind. (Bolton and Fisher 2012)

Keys including this Species

• Key to Afrotropical Simopone Species

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Democratic Republic of Congo (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.

Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.

Biology

Explore Overview of Simopone biology  Little is known about the biology of most species of Simopone. Specimens are rarely collected, and the number of species known only from workers is telling in regards to a lack of nest samples. Species are almost entirely arboreal but on occasion foraging workers are found on the ground or in rotten logs. Prey records are extremely sparse. They consist only of Crematogaster brood by Simopone vepres, and the brood of Terataner by Simopone sicaria. Nevertheless, these two records support the general supposition by Brown (1975) that most or all members of tribe Cerapachyini prey on other ants, or more probably the brood of other ants, but actual records are extremely rare. (Bolton and Fisher 2012) ‎

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

• fulvinodis. Simopone fulvinodis Santschi, 1923e: 262, fig. 1d (w.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO.
  • Type-material: holotype worker.
  • Type-locality: Democratic Republic of Congo (“Congo Belge”): Kidada, Kitobola, 14-18.ix.1922 (H. Schouteden).
  • Type-depository: MRAC.
  • Status as species: Brown, 1975: 35; Bolton, 1995b: 383; Bolton & Fisher, 2012: 25 (redescription).
  • Distribution: Democratic Republic of Congo.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Bolton and Fisher (2012) - HL 0.86, HW 0.64, SL 0.28, EL 0.28, PW 0.48, AIIW 0.44, AIIL 0.46, AIIIW 0.52, AIIIL 0.59, WL 1.08, MFL 0.52, CI 74, SI 44, EL/HW 0.44, EP 0.88, AIIW/AIIL 0.96, AIIIW/AIIIL 0.88.

With head in full-face view the midpoints of the outer margins of the eyes just graze the outlines of the sides of the head. ES 0.26 and width of head across broadest part of eyes 0.62. Frontal carinae extend back to level of anterior margins of eyes and are weakly divergent posteriorly. Cephalic dorsum with broad, shallow punctures and with weak longitudinal ground sculpture also present between the eyes. Leading edge of scape without setae, but this may be the result of abrasion. Sides of head below and behind eyes without projecting short setae. Cephalic dorsum with a pair of curved setae, located close to level of posterior margins of eyes. Mesosoma in dorsal view narrowest at pro-mesonotal junction (width 0.45), broadest across the propodeum (maximum width 0.50). Anterior margin of pronotum weakly carinate. Propodeum with a fine weak carina between dorsum and declivity. Entire dorsum of mesosoma with broad, shallow punctures, slightly denser on the mesonotum and propodeum than on the pronotum. Mesopleuron with a few shallow punctures and a distinct transverse sulcus. In profile, dorsal surfaces of mesosoma and all abdominal tergites without numerous obvious setae; instead, on the mesosoma there is a single standing pair at the pronotal humeri and tergites of AIII and AIV have a row of short, elevated setae across the posterior margin (the possibility of abrasion must be considered). Standing setae are absent from the middle and hind femora and tibiae. AII (petiole) in dorsal view with a transverse carina both anteriorly and posteriorly; a series of 5–6 short, inconspicuous cuticular ribs extends anteriorly on the median portion of the posterior carina. Sides of AII in dorsal view are extremely feebly convex, almost straight, and gradually diverge posteriorly so that the width across the anterior margin is slightly less than across the posterior margin. Dorsum of AII and AIII with very shallow punctures. On AIV punctures are smaller and not well defined. AII and AIII longer than broad, AIV broader than long (width 0.63, length 0.56). In profile the head capsule and mesosoma dark brown; scapes and funiculi dull yellow; AII and AIII dull yellow, AII darker anteriorly; AIV and AV black; femora light brown; tibiae and tarsi dull yellow.

Type Material

Bolton and Fisher (2012) - Holotype worker, Democratic Republic of Congo: Kidada, Kitobola, 14–18.ix.1922 (H. Schouteden) (Musee Royal de I' Afrique Centrale) [examined].

References

• Bolton, B. & Fisher, B.L. 2012. Taxonomy of the cerapachyine ant genera Simopone Forel, Vicinopone gen. n. and Tanipone gen. n. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 3283, 1–101 (doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3283.1.1).
• Santschi, F. 1923e. Descriptions de nouveaux Formicides éthiopiens et notes diverses. I. Rev. Zool. Afr. (Bruss.) 11: 259-295 (page 262, fig. 1 worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Borowiec M. L. 2016. Generic revision of the ant subfamily Dorylinae (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). ZooKeys 608: 1–280.