Crematogaster (Crematogaster) acis (Forel) new status

Type location Zaïre (Cremastogater sewelli r acis n.st., Forel, 1913h: 353, worker) collected at Congo da Lemba, by R. Mayné .

Forel's (1913h) description is at . Quite why a form with distinct short propodeal spines and brown almost black should have been regarded as a subspecies of Crematogaster sewelli is odd and I regard acis (like marnoi) as a distinct mainland Africa species.

Crematogaster (Crematogaster) acis, as Cr. species 2 - Nigeria specimens

TL 3.9 mm, HL 0.86, HW 0.87, SL 0.59, PW 0.50

In profile promesonotum flat and slight carination of the mesonotum; metanotal groove deeply impressed, mesonotum with a vertical posterior face; propodeal spine one third down the declivity, stout and moderately long; subpetiolar spine short and blunt; postpetiole with a dorsal longitudinal groove; lateral mesonotum, propodeum and pedicel spiculate, some specimens with faint striations; pilosity sparse, erect hairs few, most on the head and gaster; colour brown-black, shiny.

In Nigeria it nests in crevices and dead wood on trees. Occasionally found on cocoa tending aphids and pseudococcids. Also found on native shrubs and trees. In addition to CRIN found at Ilesha in a cocoa seed garden.

The photomontage is of a specimen from the Central African Republic, Dzanga-Sangha NP , 03°55’13.2" N 16°36’46.1" E 536m, 20.01.2005, U.V : 2h-6h, après Sefka (entre Bambio et croisement Nola/Berberati), dans layon forestier; from on a reduviid bug; collected in forest, 1st hour of the morning; collector Philippe Annoyer. Other images can be seen in the folder at -