Paratrechina luteafra (LaPolla
& Fisher)
Type location Gabon (Nylanderia luteafra, LaPolla & Fisher, 2011: 20,
illustrated, worker) Ogooue-Maritime:
Reserve de la Moukalaba-Dougoua, 12.2 km 305 NW Doussala, 02°17'00" S,
010°29'50" E, elev. 110 m, 26.ii.2000 (S. van Noort) (CASC)
(CASENT0179584); 1 paratype worker with same label data as holotype
except date: 29.ii.2000; 1 paratype worker with same label data as
holotype except coordinates are: 02°17'00" S, 010°29'83" E (CASC, USNM)
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Diagnosis:
Overall yellow in color with contrasting, darker, erect setae and a
conspicuously domed propodeum.
Description:
Overall yellow to brownish-yellow, with darker, erect macrosetae across
body; cuticle shining, rugulose on head, mesonotum (on some specimens,
pronotum is slightly rugulose), and propodeum. Posterior margin of head
with rounded posterolateral corners, slightly emarginate medially.
Scapes surpass posterior margin by about length of the first 3–3.5
funicular segments; scape with erect setae and abundant appressed to
decumbent pubescence (SMC = 24–31). Mesosoma with erect macrosetae of
varying lengths (PMC = 2–4; MMC = 2–3); in profile, prono- tum with
linear rise towards mesonotum; metanotal area elongate; dorsal face of
propodeum dome-like, slightly lower to about the same height as
mesonotum; dorsal face and declivitous face about the same length.
Gaster shining, with abundant erect macrosetae.
Measurements (n =
4): TL 2.3–2.8 HW 0.54–0.65 HL 0.66-0.74 EL
0.13–0.16 SL 0.83– 0.89 PW 0.39–0.44 WL 0.87–1.0 GL 0.81–1.04
Indices: CI 81–89
REL 21–22 SI 137–155
The queen and male castes are currently unknown for this
species.
Etymology. The species epithet luteafra is a combination of luteus
(L. = yellow) and afra (L. = Africa).
Non-type Material examined. CAMEROON: Ottotomo, 3°39' N,
11°19' E*, 2 April 1989 (A. Dejean); GABON: Prov. Ogooue-Maritime,
Reserve des Monts Doudou, 24.3 km 307° NW Doussala, 2°13.4' S, 10°24.4'
E, 375 m, 6 March 2000 (B.L. Fisher); Prov. Ogooue-Maritime, Reserve de
la Moukalaba-Dougoua, 12.2 km 305° NW Doussala, 2°17.00' S, 10°29.83'
E, 110 m, 26 Feb 2000 (S. van Noort); Prov. Woleu-Ntem, 31.3 km 108°
ESE Minvoul, 2°04.8' N, 12°24.4' E, 600 m, 12 Feb 1998 (B.L. Fisher).
Notes. The only species P. luteafra
easily might be confused with are Paratrechina incallida, which
has different meso- somal macrosetae (thinner, lighter, and longer),
and P. usambarica,
which has a much higher PSC and lacks a domed propodeal dorsum. The
darker macrosetae contrast strongly with the yellow cuticle, a
character state seen only in one other species, N. usambarica, but
these two species can be separated by the characters noted above.
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