Discothyrea
hlavaci Taylor new species
  Type location South Africa
DESCRIPTION OF QUEEN (or gyne): antennae 11-segmented;
head in full face view near rectangular, with short frontal
carinae; anterior margin of clypeus evenly arcuate (matching the Brown,
1958g, description of a simple convex or angular vertical plate); eyes
relatively small and ovoid; only anterior ocellus distinct, posterior
pair only just distinguishable; quite slender; pronotum near vertical
almost lacking in any horizontal prtion; mesonotum dorsum near flat;
petiole from above near rectangular, ca 1.3 X wider than long, anterior
face weakly convex, posterior face weakly concave; apparently lacking
any ventral process; gaster parallel-sided, especially the
first segment; with no visible erect hairs, minute pubescence visible
on the funiculi and gaster but not obvious elsewhere; sculpturation of
fine spiculation, giving a semi-matt appearance; colour
distinctively darker than other species, with much of the gaster very
dark brown
TL ca 2.8 mm; HW ca 0.5, HL
0.63, CI = 1.25, SL ca 0.42, SI = 86, EL 0.1
The 11-segmented antennae and close proximity of the
frontal carinae place this close to Discothyrea
traegaordhi Santschi
(1914e: 3) of which only the worker has been reported or
described. According to Santschi, however, that has much coarser sculpturation and a
pronounced subpetiolar process.
Named in recognition of the collector, Dr Peter Hlavác.
Specimen deposited in the Oxford University Museum of
Natural History
|
The
photomontage is of the holotype specimen from South Africa, Western
Cape,
Grootvadersbosch N.R.; 350 m; S 33°59.39' E 20°48.32';
Peter Hlavác; 25-26.i.2004.