The Ants of Africa

The Ants of Africa
Genus Crematogaster
Crematogaster (Sphaerocrema) dakarensis Santschi - new status

Crematogaster (Sphaerocrema) dakarensis Santschi - new status

Type location Senegal (Cremastogaster pronotalis var. dakarensis n. var., Santschi, 1914d: 349, worker; listed as a variety of Cr. kneri by Santschi, 1926b: 225, 228) from Dakar, F. Silvestri, 1913 - see below

Santschi's (1914d) description of pronotalis, with dakarensis, is at

{Crematogaster dakarensis} The photomontage of the type worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0912804.

Separable from Crematogaster (Sph.) kneri in having much less sculpture, giving a shiny appearance, specially to the head; also in having short scapes which do not exceed the occiput.

{Crematogaster kneri} Nigeria specimens (Taylor, 1979: 31). WORKER. TL variable 3.00-3.60 mm; largest HL 0.86, HW 0.86, SL 0.62, PW 0.50
Colour yellow-orange, gaster darker apically, shiny. Fine reticulate sculpturation on lateral alitrunk and pedicel. Pilosity sparse and difficult to see, few erect hairs. Profile of pro- and mesonotum flat, mesonotum with a slight carina. Propodeum on a lower level and with a flat dorsum. Propodeal spines long, acute and upturned. Subpetiolar tooth moderately long and acute.

In Nigeria it nests in dead wood and under bark on trees, including cocoa where it is moderately common and will nest in old dry cherelles. Constructs tents of vegetable debris over Homoptera (pseudococcids). Also found on native trees, coffee and kola.

Oxford University Museum specimens

Crematogaster (Sphaerocrema) dakarensis	Cameroun A Fotso Kuate Crematogaster sp12	23.x.2007 Matomb 03°54'30" N 11°25'58" E	visual in forest	1
Crematogaster (Sphaerocrema) kneri B Taylor det.	Benin J-F Vayssieres RVA 3098.13	9.xi.2011 Kika-Beterou 09°14'07'' N 02°11'52'' E	Terminalia laxiflora minor	3
Crematogaster (Sphaerocrema) kneri B Taylor det.	Benin J-F Vayssieres RVA 3094.4	10.xi.2011 Tanquiéta 10°40'05'' N 01°18'14'' E	Acacia dudgeoni beating 234 m asl	2

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

Previously diagnosed by me as Crematogaster (Sphaerocrema) bequaerti mutabilis

{Crematogaster kneri} The photomontage is of a worker from Benin, Tanquiéta; collector J-F Vayssieres (RVA 3094).

{Crematogaster kneri} The photomontage is of a worker from Benin, Kika-Beterou; collector J-F Vayssieres (RVA 3098).

{Crematogaster juventa} The photomontage is of a worker from Ghana, collected by S Sky Stephens, 2006. Other images can be seen in the folder at - .
Originally diagnosed by me as Cr. juventa.

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