Crematogaster (Sphaerocrema) gambiensis André

Type location Gambia (Cremastogaster gambiensis nov. sp., André, 1889: 228, worker; Forel, 1913b: 324, queen, report no description) collected by Mocquerys - see below
subspecies
sejuncta (Cremastogaster sejuncta n. sp., Stitz, 1916: 387, illustrated, worker) from Zaïre collected at Koloka, near Angu, by Schubotz - no images on Antweb (January 2015)
transversiruga (Cremastogaster gambiensis André var. transversiruga n. var., Santschi, 1914d: 346, worker) from South Sudan, Redji {Redjaf], Lado, Reichensperger - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0912799
junior synonyms
fulva (Crematogaster (Sphaerocrema) fulva sp. n., Donisthorpe, 1945b: 265; synonymy in Bolton, 1995: 153) from Ghana, Ashanti, H E Box - see below.
longiruga (Cremastogaster gambiensis André var. longiruga n. var., Forel, 1907c: 140, all forms) from Kenya, Rendile, Mt Xaroli - no images on Antweb (January 2015
(see Bolton, 1995) .

André's (1889) description is at . Forel's (1907c) description of longiruga is at . On tranversiruga, Santschi (1914d) simply noted that the variety had transverse rugae on the propodeum, not longitudinal as in the type; he also noted that longiruga was designated as a mistake by Forel (1907c) when citing the type, which André wrote of as having longitudinal rugae on the propodeum. Stitz's (1916) description of sejuncta is at . Donisthorpe's (1945b) description of fulva is at .

Nigeria specimens (Taylor, 1979: 31). WORKER. TL variable 2.64-3.80 mm. Largest HL 0.93, HW 1.09, SL 0.73, PW 0.59
Colour of body orange, cuticle transparent, except for gaster which is darker and near black apically; shiny, with a polished appearance. Sculpturation of striations on the lateral mesonotum and propodeum. Erect hairs and pilosity moderately abundant. Profile of pro- and mesonotum convex with the metanotal groove impressed. Propodeal spines coarse with rounded apices. Subpetiolar spine large and keel-shaped, pointing forward.

Wheeler (1922) had other records from Guinea (Conakry by F. Silvestri), Sierra Leone (Samlia Falls), Ghana, and probably Nigeria (Slave Coast).

Nests in dead twigs and under bark on trees in Nigeria, including cocoa, where it is an occasional finding, in some blocks on over 1% of trees (Taylor, 1977). Eguagie (1971) found it at Ilugun near Ibadan. Constructs tents of vegetable debris over Homoptera.

In Ghana, from the paper by Donisthorpe (1945b) (as Crematogaster (Sphaerocrema) fulva) collected in association with coccids on Lophira tree in parkland savannah, 15 specimens taken by H.E. Box, at Ashanti, 16 km east of Nkoranza (Ejura Road, 26.xii.1944).

The photomontage of the type major worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0915369

The photomontage of the type minor worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0908607.

The photomontage of a syntype worker of fulva is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0902057
From the Antweb scales, this is smaller (TL ca 3.0 mm) than stated by Emery (TL 3.5-4.5 mm).

Oxford University Museum specimens

Crematogaster (Sphaerocrema) gambiensis B Taylor det.	Benin J-F Vayssieres RVA 2708	7.xii.2011 Glo, F.E.A. 06°55'05'' N 02°32'06'' E	Mangifera indica orchard	2
Crematogaster (Sphaerocrema) gambiensis B Taylor det.	Benin J-F Vayssieres RVA 3096.3	9.xi.2011 Kika-Beterou 09°14'07'' N 02°11'52'' E	Isoberlinia doka beating	2
Crematogaster (Sphaerocrema) gambiensis B Taylor det.	Central African Republic P Annoyer GB	17.ii.2005 Dzanga-Sangha 02°53’25.9" N 16°10’26.4" E	Camp 5; à 40m du sol dans un Kosipo (Entandrophragma candollei, Meliaceae), 9h00, sous lichens; 409m	4
Crematogaster (Sphaerocrema) gambiensis B Taylor det.	Central African Republic P Annoyer MZ	22.xi.2010 Dzanga-Sangha 2°28'49.5"N 16°12'55.9"E	392 m; jour, à vue, Sipo, prospection botanique Xavier	1
Crematogaster (Sphaerocrema) gambiensis B Taylor det. workers and queen	Central African Republic P Annoyer PZ	30.xi.2010 Dzanga-Sangha 2°28'49.5"N 16°12'55.9"E	392 m; nuit, à vue, Sipo trap on tree at mid-trunk, camp de base lac 1, samuel	4

The photomontage is of a worker from Benin, Glo; collector J-F Vayssieres (RVA2708).

The photomontage is of a major worker from the Central African Republic, Dzanga-Sangha NP; collector Phillipe Annoyer (CAR Sippo).

The photomontage is of a minor worker from the Central African Republic, Dzanga-Sangha NP; collector Phillipe Annoyer (CAR Sippo).

The photomontage is of a worker from the Central African Republic, Dzanga-Sangha NP; collector Phillipe Annoyer (CAR GB).

The photomontage is of a worker from the Central African Republic, Dzanga-Sangha NP; collector Phillipe Annoyer (CAR MZ).

The photomontage is of a queen from the Central African Republic, Dzanga-Sangha NP; collector Phillipe Annoyer (CAR Sippo).

On the queen of longiruga, Forel (1907c) wrote: TL 8.5 mm; all similar to the worker and of same colour; propodeum with rounded tubecles; wings hyaline, with very pale nerves; gaster and vertex brown, rest yellow brown, appendages lighter.  Other than the elongated head shape, which Forel did not mention, this matches the description.