Pyramica (Serrastruma) bequaerti (Santschi)

Type location Zaïre (Strumigenys (Cephaloxys) Bequaerti n. sp., Santschi 1923e: 286, worker; Consani, 1951: 171, illustrated, male; genus revision by Brown, 1952) collected at 2200 m altitude, in humid montane forest, west side of Ruwenzori by Dr J.C. Bequaert; revived from synonymy with S. lujae "revived status" in Bolton (1995) but with neither details nor justification - see below .

Santschi's (1923e) description is at . Consani's (1951) description of the male is at .

Bolton, 1983, in synonymizing this species with lujae, noted - "S. bequaerti was treated as a rather doubtful separate species by Brown (1952) who said 'this form may eventually prove to be a montane subspecies or even a synonym of lujae'. He has since informed me that he is now convinced that bequaerti and lujae grade together....., and I fully concur with this opinion".

Brown's notes (1952) gave it as found in humid and strongly shaded soil, at 2200 m altitude; and similar specimens also from the montane Mau Forest in Kenya. Bernard (1952) recorded it (as Strumigenys (Cephaloxys) bequaerti) from Guinea, Mt. Nimba, one worker, "typical", from Ravine I of Mount Tô, also "Congo". Bolton (1983) appears not to have sighted this Bernard specimen but I suspect that Brown had seen the specimen, which of course is a "montane" form. The record of S. lujae, as "Strumigenys (Cephaloxys) glanduscula" by Bernard shows that he, at least, was aware of the two species. [Brown, 1952, synonymised glanduscula with lujae].

The photomontage of the type worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0912832.

Oxford University Museum specimens

Pyramica bequaerti ? B Taylor det. Male

Rep. of Congo E Vingerhoedt ex Y Braet

xii.2009 Abio 03°07' S 15°31' E

No details

1

The photomontage is of a specimen from Congo, Abio; collector Vingerhoedt.

This appears to match the Consani (1951) description and illustration (below).

The illustration is from Consani (1951).