Technomyrmex (Engramma) laurenti (Emery)

Type location Zaïre (Engramma laurenti, Emery, 1899e: 487, worker & queen; also Emery, 1912g: 38) collected by Laurent; subspecies congolense (Forel, 1916: 431, worker & queen; from a "myrmecophilous plant", in Wheeler, 1922) from Zaïre, collected by H Kohl; worker and queen only described .

Emery's (1899e) description is at and Forel's (1916) description of ssp congolensis is at .

Also from Cameroun (by Conradt, in Wheeler, 1922).

Mentioned by McKey (1984) as sometimes found to have cut an entrance hole into an internode of the myrmecophilous understorey tree, Leonardoxa africana africana (see McKey studies). Note - this was McKey's earliest paper on the topic and yet he makes no further reference to this species.

Head and alitrunk densely spiculate with overlaying dense fine decumbent pilosity. The mandibles have six large teeth subtended by 5 small but distinct teeth. Overall the specimens have a stocky appearance, with a relatively large head, and short quite thick funiculi. Propodeum with short convex dorsum and steep declivity.

Bolton's (2007: 25) re-description is at .

Bolton (2007) appears to have lumped all specimens of approximately the same general form, i.e. with a strongly cordiform head and deep semi-circular clypeal notch into a single species. Although he acknowledges smaller specimens have a higher SI and relatively larger eyes he does not give any information on variation (if any) within specimens recorded from a specific nest. Colour variation is discounted as of any significance.

I have sighted specimens from two sites (nests) in Cameroun. The difference is consistent and so marked that I cannot accept Bolton's lumping. Thus, specimens of Technomyrmex kohli (Forel) are kept separate. They are an exact match for Forel's decription - with no erect setae or evidence of setal insertions on the alitrunk, apart from two pairs on the pronotum and a pair at the apex of the propodeum. They have a very different pattern of pubescence to laurenti; and, are much shinier and generally lighter.

The photomontage is of specimens collected in Cameroun - south-western tropical coastal forest area between Edéa and Campo (McKey Wolbachia project) - Cameroon 18 from location GRO, 25 March 2001; from pouch-like stipules of Diospyros conocarpa.

Other images can be seen in the folder at -