Lepisiota xxxx Sudan 2009-29 Taylor new species

Type location Sudan, worker only described .

WORKER DESCRIPTION: Head subsquare, widest at level of the eyes; eyes ovoid strongly convex (0.37 X length of side of head); in profile head ovoid with weakly convex lower side; clypeus with a weak median carina running right to anterior margin; pronotum dorsally flattened; petiole narrow and emarginate apically; abundant sub-erect yellow pilosity (ca 0.13 mm long) and abundant appressed pubescence, giving a shaggy appearance to the head; shiny, unsculptured, but with mesonotum and propodeum weakly spiculate, very distinctive broad metanotal groove with marked rugae; near unicolorous yellow brown
TL ca 3.0 mm, HL 0.68, HW 0.57, CI 88, SL 0.82, SI 135, PW 0.38
Sudan Omer 2009.29.1; Singa - 13°08'32.11" N 33°35'31.27"E

Sudan Omer 2009.36.2; seems near identical
TL ca 3.0 mm, HL 0.70, HW 0.60, CI 88, SL 0.82, SI 135, PW 0.40
Singa - 13°08'32.11" N 33°35'31.27"E

This species has no obvious African relatives.  Indeed, there do not seem to be any golden-yellow Lepisiota described in the literature and very few that are not basically dark brown to black.

Name in recognition of xxxx

Specimens deposited in the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

Oxford University Museum specimens

Lepisiota Sudan 29 B Taylor det.	Sudan Z Mahmoud 2009-29	Singa 13°08'32.11" N 33°35'31.27"E	Hand collected	1
Lepisiota Sudan 29 B Taylor det.	Sudan Z Mahmoud 2009-36	Singa 13°08'32.11" N 33°35'31.27"E	Hand collected	2

The photomontage is of the holotype specimen collected in Sudan, Haj Abd Allah, Middle Sudan, Ar Kaweit (Arkawit) - 18°60'0" N 37°17'0" E, by Awatif Omer, hand collection, 2009-29.

The photomontage is of the holotype specimen collected in Sudan, Singa - 13°08'32.11" N 33°35'31.27"E
Sudan Omer 2009.36.2

Seemingly identical to 29.1 above. Other images can be seen in the folder at - .

The photomontage is of a second worker specimen collected in Sudan, Singa; 13°08'32.11" N 33°35'31.27"E
Sudan 2009.36.1
Head cordiform, widest behind the eyes; eyes relatively small, ovoid moderately convex (0.32 X length of side of head; in profile head ovoid with broadly convex lower side; clypeus with a weak median carina running right to anterior margin; pronotum dorsally flattened; petiole narrow and emarginate apically; abundant erect yellow pilosity (ca 0.13 mm long); shiny, unsculptured, but with mesonotum and propodeum spiculate; yellow brown, gaster darker

TL ca 2.7 mm, HL 0.64, HW 0.58, CI 87, SL 0.72, SI 134, PW 0.40