Crematogaster (Sphaerocrema) bequaerti mutabilis

Type location Kenya (Cremastogaster Bequaerti For. var. mutabilis nov., Santschi, 1914b: 93, illustrated, worker) from Kenya, Lumbwa

A form smaller than the type, with more horizontal propodeal spines, a shallower metanotal groove, and, the front of the head shinier. Bernard (1952) listed 4 workers of this form, variety mutabilis, "known solely from Congo and eastern Africa", as collected in Guinea, Mt. Nimba, at station T 40, Ziéla, from a termite hill (Lamotte); also one alate queen from Camp IV, 1000 m.

Santschi's (1914b) illustrated description of mutabilis is at . Santschi's (1915c)  added the variety mutabilis Santschi is lighter than the type. In his 1937a key it was separated under - head and alitrunk yellow more or less reddish, gatser brownish.  However, he nowhere provided any size. Santschi's (1937a) key to the varieties is on .

Noticeable in my (1979) drawing and the Cameroun specimens shown below is the decumbent hairs on the gaster

Nigeria specimens (Taylor, 1979: 29). WORKER. TL 3.02 mm, HL 0.75, HW 0.75, SL 0.65, PW 0.47
Colour brown, shiny. Sculpturation of slight striations on the lateral alitrunk. Pilosity moderate, erect hairs few. Alitrunk profile flat, metanotal groove not impressed but the propodeum is on a lower level and the posterior face of the mesonotum is angled. Propodeal spines long, straight, flat and acute. Subpetiolar spine blunt.

In Nigeria it nests in dead branch ends on trees and in mummified cherelles (small aborted pods) on cocoa. Found on up to 1% of cocoa, often in association with Oecophylla longinoda (Taylor, 1977). Tends aphids on cocoa flowers. Also found on native shrubs and trees.

In Nigeria it nests in dead branch ends on trees and in mummified cherelles (small aborted pods) on cocoa. Found on up to 1% of cocoa, often in association with Oecophylla longinoda (Taylor, 1977). Tends aphids on cocoa flowers. Also found on native shrubs and trees.

In Ghana, Belshaw & Bolton (1994b) found it, as a 'tourist', in leaf litter samples at three locations (primary forest at Atewa Forest Reserve, secondary forest at Bunso, and cocoa at Asiakwa) in the semi-deciduous forest zone.

Oxford University Museum specimens

Crematogaster (Sphaerocrema) bequaerti mutabilis B Taylor det.

Cameroun A Fotso Kuate Crematogaster sp12

23.x.2007 Matomb 03°54'30" N 11°25'58" E

visual in forest

1

The photomontage is of a worker from Cameroun, Matomb; collector A Fotso Kuate (fk crematogaster sp 12).