Tapinoma luridum Emery

Type location Zaïre (Tapinoma luridum n. sp., Emery, 1908b: 188, worker) collected at Sankuru, by Luja
subspecies sokolovi (Tapinoma luridum Em. subspec. sokolovi nova., Karavaiev, 1931d: 50, illustrated, worker) from Kenya, Naivasha
worker only described (see Bolton, 1995).

I have separated longiceps (Wheeler, 1922: 209, worker) from Zaïre, and connexum (Tapinoma luridum stirps connexum, Santschi, 1914b: 118, illustrated, worker) from Kenya, as distinct species, Tapinoma longiceps and Tapinoma connexum .

Emery's (1908b) description is at . Karavaiev's (1931d) description of sokolovi is at .

The photomontage of the type worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0904030

Oxford University Museum specimens

Tapinoma luridum B Taylor det.	Benin J-F Vayssieres RVA 2974	7.xi.2012 Koro 09°22'21'' N 02°40'13'' E	Ground nesting at base of Eucalyptus	2
Tapinoma luridum B Taylor det.	Cameroun A Fotso Kuate Technomyrmex sp2	9.v.2007 Awae II 03°54'30" N 11°25'58" E	Quadrat in forest	1
Tapinoma luridum B Taylor det.	Rep. of Congo D De Bakker & JP Michiels ex Y Braet	18.ix.2007 Mayombe 05°37'16" S 13°05'54" E	P266 m asl Canopy fogging	1
Tapinoma luridum B Taylor det. Queen (speculative)	Central African Republic P Annoyer EV	06.ii.2005 Dzanga-Sangha 02°50'01.8" N 16°08'13.7" E	375 m	1

The photomontage is of a worker from Congo; Mayombe; collectors D De Bakker & JP Michiels.

The photomontage is of a worker from Cameroun; Awae II; collector. A Fotso Kuate.(fk technomyrmex sp2).  These Cameroun worjkers are somewhat smaller and ghave relatively smaller eyes than the type and the Congo specimen (above).

The photomontage is of a second worker from Cameroun; Awae II; as above.

The photomontage is of a queen from the Central African Republic, 06.ii.2005 18h-6h30; Camp 3; 02°50'01.8" N 16°08'13.7" E 375 m; Dans petite saline à proximité du camp; collector Philippe Annoyer.

This association of a queen is speculative as there is no prior record of any other than the worker. However, the colour and size mitigate against other members of the genus in sub-Saharan Africa.