The Ants of Africa SUBFAMILY MYMICINAE - Genus Cyphoidris
Subfamily Myrmicinae

Genus Cyphoidris Weber (1952: 26)

Diagnostic Features - Antenna with 11 segments. Frontal lobes present; pronounced antennal scrobes. Eyes present and forward of mid-length of the head. Anterior clypeal margin unarmed but median portion narrow and bicarinate. Mandible with 10-14 teeth, decreasing in size from apex to base. Promesonotum domed in profile, propodeum bispinose.

Weber's (1952) genus description is at .

Not in Bolton (1973a) but reviewed by Bolton (1981b). The geographical notes in the latter review, however, are incorrect. First, Bolton described parissa as the only one of West African origin, despite listing an Ivory Coast finding of spinosa. I am including Cameroun, and thus exalta, in "West Africa".

Key to workers (developed from Bolton, 1981b)

1	Basal half of gaster densely shagreened; TL 4.3 mm; dark reddish-brown, gaster darker than the head	Liberia - parissa
--	Basal half of gaster unsculptured apart from hair pits	2
2	Propodeum profile continuing curvature of mesonotum; TL 3.5-3.8 mm; alitrunk dorsum strongly sculptured with dense rugo-reticulum; blackish-brown with a dull reddish tint, most apparent on alitrunk sides, antennae & legs dull orange-yellow	Rwanda - werneri
--	Propodeum with flat profile, not continuing convexity of mesonotum; alitrunk dorsum not strongly sculptured	3
3	Alitrunk dorsum with abundant conspicuous erect hairs; metanotal suture distinctly impressed; TL 3.8-4.3 mm; basal half of first gastral tergite unsculptured except for hair pits; dark reddish brown to black	West Africa & Congo Basin - spinosa
--	Alitrunk dorsum with inconspicuous short erect hairs; metanotal suture marked but not impressed; TL 4.3 mm; basal half of first gastral tergite unsculptured except for hair pits; dark reddish brown to black	Cameroun & Congo Basin- exalta

Subfamily Myrmicinae

© 2007, 2009, 2012 - Brian Taylor CBiol FSB FRES 11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K.

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