Paraparatrechina albipes (Emery)

Type location Cameroun (Prenolepis albipes n.sp., Emery, 1899e: 497, worker; genus revision by LaPolla, Cheng & Fisher, 2010: 4) collected by L Conradt; worker only described (see Bolton, 1995) .

Emery's (1899e) description is at .

Lapolla, Cheng & Fisher (2010: 4) description is: Head brown, with contrasting yellowish-brown antennae and mandibles; head slightly longer than broad. White colored pubescence covers head in neat longitudinal rows. Scapes surpass posterior margin by about the length of the first 2–3 funicular segments. Lateral parts of mesosoma brown, and typically a distinctly white to whitish-yellow patch covers the dorsum of the pronotum and mesonotum, with the dorsum of the propodeum whitish to lighter brown. Fine, white pubescence covers entire mesosomal dorsum. Pronotum rises slightly more than 45° from anterior margin to dorsum; mesosoma compact; propodeum dorsum gently rounded. Procoxae brown, meso/metacoxae and trochanters white. Femurs brown posteriorly becoming white towards anterior ends; tibiae and tarsi white; gaster brown, sometimes slightly lighter colored around segmental margins
TL 1.41-1.89 mm, HL 0.39-0.47, HW 0.35-0.42, CI 81-93, SL 0.48-0.53, SI 119-140

They examined material from Cameroun, Nkoemvon, D. Jackson, 1980; Campo and Bimbia Forest, B L. Fisher; Central African Republic, Dazangah-Ndoki, Dzangha-Sangha, B.L. Fisher & S van Noort; Ghana, 8 locations; Nigeria, Gambari, 3 collections, B Bolton, 1969; Ibadan, A Russell-Smith, 1981; Togo, Palime, Klouto Forest, 1974, Vit.

Note: I find it difficult to unravel the overlapping occurrences of this and Paraparatrechina brunnella. Both are reported from the same very small area in Cameroun where Dorothy Jackson made her study (Jackson, 1984). LaPolla & Cheng state "white pubescence covering body" but this is at odds with Emery's statement of "pubescence pruinose" and my note (below). They also state brunnella has a shorter scape but their SI data does not support that other than as a function of the apparently generally smaller specimens.  My specimens appear not to be among the material from the NHM examined by LaPolla & Cheng and on balance do not wholly match either albipes or brunnella, although the overall form is closer to the Antweb Gabon specimen than the CAR specimen (e.g. relatively rounded head, more biconvex alitrunk profile.

The two workers available on the Antweb site have the following
Gabon HL 0.46, HW 0.36, CI 82, SI ca 132 (EL 0.25 X lateral HL)
CAR HL 0.52, HW 0.42, CI 81, SI ca 125 (EL 0.24 X lateral HL)

Nigeria specimens (as Paratrechina species 2, Taylor, 1978: 29). WORKER. TL 1.56 mm, HL 0.47, HW 0.39, CI 88, SL 0.54, SI 127, PW 0.28; EL ca 0.11 (EL 0.26 X lateral HL)
Overall colour yellow-brown, darker on the gaster. Dense pubescence with a blue-green iridescence when obliquely illuminated. Eyes slightly breaking outline of head in full face view. Four pairs of erect hairs in line on the dorsum of alitrunk but no others, relatively few hairs on head and gaster. Promesonotal suture distinct but metanotal suture faint.
Nests were seen in debris in crevices on mature cocoa, in dead bark of cocoa tree, and in an old Tetramorium aculeatum nest, all at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Idi Ayunre. Occasionally found foraging on cocoa, where it will construct tents over aphids.

Also found in Ghana, on leaf litter and herbs under cocoa at the Mampong Cemetery farm, and nesting in same sites, plus sampled seven times from cocoa canopy in the wider survey (Room, 1971).

Collected in moderate numbers, 100-200 individuals, in pitfall traps and ground searches at Nko'emvon, Cameroun, by Jackson (1984). Others from the same location have been separated as Paraparatrechina brunnella by LaPolla, Cheng & Fisher (2010).

The photomontage of the type worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=0905663

Oxford University Museum specimens

Paraparatrechina albipes B Taylor det.	Congo Y Braet	Brazzaville area ca. 4°15'33" S 15°17'5" E	Hand collection	4
Paraparatrechina albipes B Taylor det.	Central African Republic P Moretto xii.2012	Sangha PN Ndoki 02˚28'39" N 22˚01'20" E	07-04 Lac 1, forêt à Gilbertiodendron, piège malaise	1

The photomontage is of a worker from Congo, Brazzaville area, ca 4°15'33" S 15°17'5" E; hand collected by Yves Braet, 2007.

The photomontage is of a second worker from Congo, Brazzaville area.

The photomontage is of a second worker from the Central African Republic, Sangha; collector P. Moretto.

The photomontage is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0400632

The photomontage is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0178759