Axinidris murielae Shattuck ^HNS

Axinidris murielae Shattuck, 1991: 116 - 117 ^HNS; figs. 23 - 25, 35 (w, q). CAMEROUN, Nkoemvon (D. Jackson) (BMNH) examined .

Worker diagnosis. Antennal scape with more than 5 and pronotum with 2 erect hairs; pronotum mostly smooth and shiny; medial carina present and obtuse in profile; distance between spines less than PPW; head and body reddish brown.

Worker measurements (mm) (n = 2). HW 0.66 - 0.81; HL 0.76 - 0.91; SL 0.56 - 0.66; EL 0.20 - 0.26; OVD 0.24 - 0.31; PNW n / a; PPW 0.31 - 0.46; WL 0.89 - 1.30. Indices. CI 87 - 89; CNI 90 - 129; OI 26 - 34; SI 80 - 85.

DISCUSSION

Worker and queen have been adequately described by Shattuck (1991); the male remains unknown.

The two species A. gabonica ^HNS and A. murielae ^HNS are similar and may ultimately prove to belong to a single somewhat variable species. For the present the two are separable as noted in the key: A. murielae ^HNS has 4 - 6 erect hairs on the pronotum (only 2 in A. gabonica ^HNS) and numerous erect hairs on the front of the head (only 4 in A. gabonica ^HNS) and also with erect hairs on gastral terga 2 - 4 (one in A. gabonica ^HNS).

The types of A. murielae ^HNS are from Cameroun; Shattuck (1991) also recorded specimens from Ghana. I have also seen a few specimens from the vicinity of Busumbuli in the Kakamega Forest of Kenya. Both samples were taken by tree fogging, one from Teclea nobilis and one from Heinsenia diervillioides.