Nylanderia lepida (Santschi, 1915)

(Figs. 25–27, 79 [worker]; 28–30 [queen]; 31–33, 92–94 [male])

Prenolepis (Nylanderia) lepida Santschi, 1915: 262 (worker described). Holotype worker, CAMEROON: Victoria (Dr. Reichensperger) (NHMB) [examined]. Emery, 1925: 218, combination in Paratrechina (Nylanderia); LaPolla et al., 2010: 127, combination in Nylanderia.

Prenolepis (Nylanderia) grisoni Forel, 1916: 440 (worker described). 4 syntype workers, D.R. CONGO (MHNG) [examined]. Emery, 1925: 218, combination in Paratrechina (Nylanderia); LaPolla et al., 2010: 127, combination in Nylanderia. SYN. NOV.

Paratrechina (Nylanderia) grisoni var. fuscula Menozzi, 1942: 178. Holotype worker, EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Fernando Po Island [not examined, depository unknown]. LaPolla et al., 2010: 127, combination in Nylanderia. SYN. NOV.

Worker diagnosis: Overall darker brown, with distinctly smooth and shining cuticle; mesocoxae and metacoxae whitish, with trochanters and other joints of the legs similarly whitish in color.

Compare with: N. impolita

WORKER. Measurements (n = 14): TL: 1.2–2.6; HW: 0.44–0.58; HL: 0.53–0.68; EL: 0.1–0.18; SL: 0.60– 0.81; PW: 0.30–0.42; WL: 0.69–0.93; GL: 0.58–0.98

Indices: CI: 78–88; REL: 24–28; SI: 136–152

Overall dark brown with lighter mandibles, antennae, and legs; mesocoxae, metacoxae, trochanters, femurs distally, tibia, and tarsi yellowish to white; area around acidopore yellowish. Cuticle generally smooth and shining, except mesonotum, which is faintly rugulose. Head with scattered pubescence; posterior margin broadly rounded, with distinctly rounded posterolateral corners; scapes surpass posterior margin by about the length of the first three funicular segments; scapes with erect macrosetae (SMC = 12–30) and a layer of pubescence. Pronotum and mesonotum with scattered erect macrosetae of varying lengths (PMC = 3–6; MMC = 2); sparse pubescence on dorsum. Pronotum rounded towards mesonotum; mesonotal area distinct with prominent spiracles; metanotal area elongate; dorsal face of propodeum high and dome-like (higher than mesonotum); dorsal face slightly longer than declivitous face. Gaster shining, with erect macrosetae and occasional pubescence.

QUEEN. Measurements (n = 2): TL: 4.1–5.4; HW: 0.71–0.92; HL: 0.76–0.83; EL: 0.31–0.42; SL: 0.81–0.92; PW: 0.95–1.24; WL: 1.2–1.5; GL: 2.2–3.1

Indices: CI: 93–110; REL: 40–50; SI: 100–114

As in worker but with modifications expected for caste. Entire body covered in a dense pubescence; eyes large, but not strongly convex, about half the length of the head lateral margin; scapes and pronotum with no erect setae (PMC = 0); mesonotum and metanotum with scattered erect setae (MMC = 13).

MALE. Measurements (n = 2): TL: 1.6–2.0; HW: 0.45–0.49; HL: 0.47–0.5; EL: 0.21–0.25; SL: 0.52–0.59; PW: 0.47–0.55; WL: 0.52–0.74; GL: 0.63–0.81

Indices: CI: 95–98; REL: 42–50; SI: 117–121

Overall brown, with lighter brown to yellow mandibles, antennae and legs (lightest on trochanters); cuticle smooth and shining. Head with suberect to erect macrosetae and a dense layer of pubescence. Compound eyes large (more than half the length of head lateral margin), strongly convex, surpassing lateral margin in full-frontal view, with ocelli large and raised. Scapes surpass posterior margin by about the length of the first 4 funicular segments; scapes with sparsely scattered, erect macrosetae (SMC = 2–4). Mandible masticatory margin edentate, except for distinct apical tooth; basal angle of mandible distinct. Mesosoma enlarged and modified to accommodate flight muscles; with dense layer of pubescence and scattered erect setae (PMC = 0; MMC = 10); declivity with scattered pubescence, largely smooth and shining. Gaster with pubescence and erect macrosetae. Genitalia (figs. 92–94): parameres broadly rounded at apices curving dorsally covering most of the dorsal opening; apical margin of parameres emarginate; ventral margin of parameres at an acute angle; cuspi elongated, apices rounded with peglike teeth on ental surface where they meet digit; digiti apices broad; peg-like teeth at apices dorsally, ventrally coming to a narrow point that curves towards parameres.

Non-type material examined. ANGOLA: Salazar (also called: N'dalatando), 9°17.904' S, 14°54.850' E *, March 1972 (P. Hammond); CAMEROON: Prov. Sud Res. Campo. Massif des Mamelles, 15.1 km, 84° E. Ebodje, 2°35.7' N, 9°57.6' E, 180 m, 4 April 2000 (B.L. Fisher); Prov. Sud-Ouest, Bimbia Forest, 7.4 km 119° ESE Limbe, 3°58.9' N, 9°15.8' E, 40 m, 14 April 2000 (B.L. Fisher); Prov. Sud Res. de Faune de Campo, 2.16 km, 106° ESE Ebodje, 2°34.1' N, 9°50.7' E, 10 m, 9 April 2000 (B.L. Fisher); Mbalmayo, 3°30.932' N, 11°30.051' E *, 655 m, Nov 1993 (N. Stork); Ottotomo, 3°39' N, 11°19' E *, 2 April 1989 (A. Dejean); CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUB- LIC: PN Dzanga-Ndoki, 38.6 km 173°S Lidjombo, 2°21.60' N, 16°03.20' E, 350 m, 22 May 2001 (S. van Noort); Res. Dzanga-Sangha, 12.7 km, 326° NW Bayanga, 3°09' N 16°12' E, 340 m, 17 Oct 2001 (B.L. Fisher); PN Dzanga-Ndoki, 39.6 km 174° S Lidjombo, 2°21' N, 16.09' E, 340 m, 24 May 2001 (B.L. Fisher); Res. Dzanga- Sangha, 21.4 km, 53° NE Bayanga, 3°02.01' N, 16°24.57' E, 510 m, 5 May 2001 (S. van Noort); PN Dzanga-Ndoki Mabea Bai, 21.4 km 53° NE Bayanga, 3°02.00' N, 16°24.60' E, 510 m, 4 May 2001 (S. van Noort); Res. Dzanga- Sangha, 12.7 km, 326° NW Bayanga, 3°00.27' N, 16°11.55', 420 m, 11–17 May 2001 (S. van Noort); PN Dzanga- Ndoki, Mabea Bai, 21.4 km, 53° NE Bayanga, 3°02' N, 16°25' E, 510 m, 7 May 2001 (B.L. Fisher); Res. Dzanga- Sangha, 12.7 km, 326° NW Bayanga, 3.00' N, 16°12' E, 370 m, 10–17 May 2001 (B.L. Fisher); GABON: Prov. Woleu-Ntem, 31.3 km 108° ESE Minvoul, 2°04.8' N, 12°24.4'E, 600 m, 7 Feb 1998 (B.L. Fisher); Prov. Ogooue- Maritime, Moukalaba, 12.2 km 305° NW Doussala, 2°17.0' S, 10°29.8' E, 10 m, 24 Feb 2000 (B.L. Fisher); Prov. Ogooue-Maritime, Res 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, Res. Moukalaba 12.2 km, 305° NW Doussala, 2°17.0' S, 10°29.8'E, 10 m, 24 Feb 2000 (B.L. Fisher); La Makande, Foret des Abeilles, 0°20.684' S, 11°33.593' E *, 1 Feb 1999 (S. Lewis); Mankokou, 0°33.746' N, 12°51.449' E *, Oct 1972 (I. Lieberburg); GHANA: Mampong, 7°3.641' N, 1°24.266' W *, April 1970 (P. Room); Tafo, 6°12.974' N, 0°22.247' W *, 4 Aug 1970 (B. Bolton); Mampong, 7°3.641' N, 1°24.266' W *, 26 Jan 1970 (P. Room); Asiakwa nr. Kibi, 6°15.835' N, 0°30.130' W *, 1 May 1992 (R. Belshaw); Tafo (Cocoa Research Institution), 6°12.974' N, 0°22.247' W *, 11 Dec 1991 (R. Belshaw); Bunso nr. Tafo, 6°12' N, 1°49' W *, 12 April 1992 (R. Belshaw); IVORY COAST: Mt Tonkoui, 7°27.240' N, 7°38.220' W *, 9 Oct 1980 (V. Mahnert & JL Perret); NIGERIA: Owena, CRIN (Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria), 7°11.663' N, 5°1.389' E *, 24 Sept 1975 (B. Taylor); Gambari Forest Reserve, 7°8.000' N, 3°50.000' E *, 31 Dec 1969 (B. Bolton); Gambari Forest Reserve, 7°8.000' N, 3°50.000' E *, 10 June 1969 (B. Bolton); SÃO TOMÉ: Roca Zampalma, 0°14.7' N, 6°36.0' E *, 10 Sept 1949 (G.R. Gradwell & D. Snow); UGANDA: Ruwenzori Range, Semliki Forest, 0°48.839' N, 30°3.240' E *, 22 Aug 1952 (D.S. Fletcher)

Notes. In most instances this is an easily identified species, possessing among the shiniest cuticles of any Afrotropical Nylanderia. A few specimens examined exhibited a faintly rugulose cuticle, especially on the head and mesonotum. With these specimens, the cuticular rugosity is always much less defined than is observed in N. impolita. In instances where a faintly rugulose cuticle is observed, the overall size and the length of the scape can effectively separate N. lepida from N. impolita.