Axinidris bidens Shattuck

Figures 2, 12, 22

Axinidris bidens Shattuck, 1991: 111 - 112; figs. 8 - 10, 35 (w). GHANA: Tafo (C. Campbell) (BMNH) examined.

Worker diagnosis. Pronotal humeri and propodeal spines each with a single long fully erect hair, mesosoma otherwise without erect hairs; antennal scape shaft without erect hairs; medial carina absent and propodeal spines distinct.

Worker measurements (mm) (n = 12). HW 0.51 - 0.62; HL 0.62 - 0.70; SL 0.42 - 0.50; EL 0.14 - 0.19; OVD 0.24 - 0.29; PNW 0.33 - 0.38; PPW 0.18 - 0.26; WL 0.79 - 0.92. Indices. CI 80 - 89; CNI 50 - 80; OI 26 - 34; SI 75 - 85.

Worker description. The worker caste has been adequately described by Shattuck (1991).

Queen measurements (mm) (n = 4). HW 0.62 - 0.63; HL 0.77 - 0.81; SL 0.50 - 0.51; EL 0.21 - 0.23; OVD 0.29 - 0.32; PNW 0.51 - 0.58; PPW 0.37; WL 1.05 - 1.17. Indices. CI 76 - 82; CNI 80; OI 33 - 38; SI 80 - 83.

Queen description. Generally similar to worker but a little larger and with more elongate head; mesosoma fully developed for flight; interocular distance 1.61 - 1.87 × EL; interocellar distance 3 × diameter of median ocellus; ocellocular distance about 6 × diameter of median ocellus; medial carina absent; sculpture and pilosity similar to those of worker; mesonotum and metanotum each with a single long erect hair on each side; gastral pilosity about as in worker, but appressed pubescence sparser; total length about 2.5 mm.

Male unknown.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED

In addition to the three type specimens I have examined samples from the following localities. CAMEROUN, Southwest Prov., Big Ngwandi, Rumpi Hills (LACM). CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, Res. Dzanga-Sangha (CASC). KENYA, Kakamega Distr., Buyangu, Isecheno and Kisere, all in Kakamega Forest, 1550 - 1600 m (AKRI, LACM).

DISCUSSION

The samples from Cameroun were collected from living stems of Leonardoxa africana. At Isecheno I collected workers running on a fallen tree trunk. One colony collected at Isecheno, on 30 April 2003 from a living stem of Acanthus eminens consisted of a single queen and 44 workers in addition to 19 pupae (17 workers). Alate queens were collected from colony samples in Cameroun during the month of November. This species has been collected by Thomas Wagner while fogging Teclea nobilis, a common forest tree species. Other fogging samples, collected by W. Freund, included some from Heinsenia diervillioides, in addition to T. nobilis. These data suggest that A. bidens, and probably all species of Axinidris, are able to utilize stems or branches of a wide variety of plant species as nesting sites.

Automontage images of this species (as Axinidris sp. 3) may be viewed at www. antweb. org.