Crematogaster (Sphaerocrema) zavattarii Menozzi

Type location Nigeria (Crematogaster (Sphaerocrema) Zavattarii n. sp., Menozzi, 1926a: 39, worker) collected at Port Harcourt, by Prof E Zavattari - see below
junior synonym (here) edmeeae (Cr. (Sph.) zavathari Men. stirps edmeeae n. st., Santschi, 1937g: 77, worker) from Congo, Brazzaville, collector A Weiss, 1927 - see below
worker only described (see Bolton, 1995) .

Menozzi's (1926a) description is at . Numerous workers. Santschi's (1937g) description of edmeeae is at .

The photomontage of a cotype is collated from http://mcz-28168.oeb.harvard.edu/mcz/FMPro?-DB=Image.fm&-Lay=web&-Format=images.htm&Species_ID=30895&-Find. Presumably this has lost the intensity of colour, as the fresh specimens below match Menozzi's description as piceous, gaster slightly darker, with the appendage varying reddish.

The photomontage of a second cotype worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=CASENT0912824.

The photomontage of the edmeeae type worker (label reads ziki) is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=CASENT0912825.

Nigeria specimens (as Crematogaster ? gabonensis, Taylor, 1979: 29). WORKER. TL 4.01 mm, HL 0.90, HW 0.96, SL 0.67, PW 0.56
Colour of entire body orange-brown, except the gaster which is very dark red-brown. Mildly striate on the mesonotum and propodeum. Moderately dense pilosity and moderately abundant erect hairs. Profile of pro- and mesonotum convex, metanotal groove impressed. Propodeal spines long, acute and slightly upturned. Subpetiolar spine minute but acute.

This seems a good match, although perhaps larger, for zavattarii; alternatively or perhaps a synonym is nigeriensis although that appears from Santschi's description to have shorter propodeal spines.

Nests in dead wood both on the ground and on living trees building carton nests around and under flaky, cankerous bark (right, clickable image).

Can be a dominant species on cocoa, found on up to 2% of trees throughout the cocoa-growing area of Nigeria (Taylor, 1977). Tends Homoptera and builds carton tents to protect them (Taylor & Griffin, 1981). Also found on native shrubs and trees, and on cashew and kola.

Oxford University Museum specimens

Crematogaster (Sphaerocrema) zavattarii B Taylor det.	Benin S Tchibozo	28.ii.2007 06°55’32.8 N 02°29’13 E	Forêt de Gbèvozoumè Lisière fourmis (forest edge/ border ants)	1
Crematogaster (Sphaerocrema) zavattarii B Taylor det.	Benin J-F Vayssieres RVA 2991	6.xi.2012 Koro 09°22'21'' N 02°40'13'' E	From beating weeds near river	2
Crematogaster (Sphaerocrema) zavattarii B Taylor det.	Benin J-F Vayssieres RVA 2993	6.xi.2012 Koro 09°22'21'' N 02°40'13'' E	From beating weeds near river	4
Crematogaster (Sphaerocrema) zavattarii B Taylor det.	Cameroun A Fotso Kuate Crematogaster sp16	15.v.2007 Boga 03°54'30" N 11°25'58" E	Quadrat in fallow	2
Crematogaster (Sphaerocrema) zavattarii B Taylor det.	Cameroun A Fotso Kuate Crematogaster sp3	9.v.2007 Awae II 03°54'30" N 11°25'58" E	Tuna bait in fallow	1
Crematogaster (Sphaerocrema) zavattarii B Taylor det.	Cameroun A Fotso Kuate Sample 69	28.vii.2010 Nko’ondo 03°54'30" N 11°25'58" E		2
Crematogaster (Sphaerocrema) zavattarii B Taylor det.	Central African Republic P Annoyer LN	14.xi.2010 Dzanga-Sangha 2°27'11.6"N 16°04'58.7"E	343 m; matin, Molongo, fleuve Sangha	2
Crematogaster (Sphaerocrema) zavattarii B Taylor det.	Ghana S Sky Stephens 06G0030	2006	in personal collection of S Sky Stephens	1

The photomontage is of a worker from Benin; Forêt de Gbèvozoumè; collector S Tchibozo.

The photomontage is of a worker from Ghana, collected by S Sky Stephens (06g0030).

The photomontage is of a worker from Cameroun; from Awae II; collector A Fotso Kuate (fk crematogaster sp 3)

The photomontage is of a worker from Central African Republic; Dzanga-Sangha; collector Philippe Annoyer (CAR LN)