Tetraponera mocquerysi (André)

Type location Sierra Leone (Sima Mocquerysi nov. sp., André, 1890: 319, worker; in Tetraponera, Wheeler, 1922: 106) collected by Mocquerys - see below
subspecies
biozellata (Sima (Sima) mocquerysi And. var. biozellata nova, Karavaiev, 1931d: 42, illustrated, worker & queen) from Kenya, Naivasha - no images on Antweb (April 2015)
elongata (Sima mocquerysi Andr., v. elongata n. v., Stitz, 1911b: 378, illustrated, worker) from Tanzania, Mehrere, nr Bukoba, vi.1907 - no images on Antweb (April 2015)
lutea (Sima mocquerysi Andr., v. lutea n. v., Stitz, 1911b: 381, illustrated, worker & queen) from Zaïre, Kwidschwi Island, Lake Kivu, by Schubotz - no images on Antweb (April 2015)
worker and queen described (see Bolton, 1995) .

NOTE - I have given the much larger Tetraponera lepida (Wheeler, 1922: 106, worker & queen) a new species status. It seems likely that the amber yellow form lutea is a separate species.

André's (1890) description is at . Stitz's (1911b) description of elongata is at . His description of lutea is at . Karavaiev's (1931d) description of biozellata is at .

Wheeler (1922) listed lepida from Zaïre (Faradje by Lang & Chapin, plus one from Yakuluku and a female from Garamba); and the species sensu lato also from Guinea (Kakoulima, F. Silvestri), Ghana (Chama, H. Brauns), Togo (Bismarckburg, Conradt), Equatorial Guinea, Congo areas and Ethiopia.

From Guinea, Bernard (1952) reported a queen from Yanlé and a worker from Camp I of Mount Tô (1500 m).

Forel (1911d) noted differences of Tetraponera prelli (from East Africa) as the frontal carinae being less close together than mocquerysi; the head similar with a straight or little concave posterior border having; the curve from dorsum to declivity of the propodeum being a little faster than mocquerysi and petiole node shorter and higher. The main distinguishing feature of prelli being the slightly enlarged anterior pronotum.

The photomontage of the type worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0904032.

Oxford University Museum specimens

Tetraponera mocquerysi B Taylor det.

Gabon Y Braet Gabon 64

14.v.-11.vi.2006 Pongara 00°17.558' N 09°18.270' E

South Pointe Wingombe Malaise trap edge of lagoon

1

The photomontage is of a worker from Gabon, Pongara National Park; South Point Wingombe; collector Yves Braet (Gabon 64). An exact match for the type worker (above).