Vicinopone conciliatrix Bolton & Fisher 2012, comb. n.

Vicinopone conciliatrix (Brown) comb. n.

(Figs 79–81)

Simopone conciliatrix Brown, 1975: 79, figs 11–13. Holotype worker, paratype workers and paratype queens (dealate), GHANA: Tafo, 27.xi.1970, hollow cocoa twig, on tree (B. Bolton); paratype workers, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (“Belg. Congo” on data label): Yangambi, Réserve Intégrale Riv. “Luco”, 6.x.1949, C-1265 (A. Raignier & J. van Boven) (BMNH, MCZC) [examined].

Measurements: HL 0.53–0.68, HW 0.32–0.42, SL 0.18–0.28, EL 0.10–0.19, PW 0.22–0.32, AIIW 0.20–0.28, AIIL 0.24–0.38, AIIIW 0.26–0.37, AIIIL 0.24–0.38, WL 0.60–0.82, MFL 0.27–0.40, CI 59–63, SI 57–67, EL/HW 0.31– 0.45, EP 0.32–0.41, AIIW/AIIL 0.68–0.75, AIIIW/AIIIL 0.95–1.08 (10 measured).

The original description of this species is detailed and does not need duplication here. The major characters listed for the genus, above, will easily isolate conciliatrix. One small point needs to be added: there is allometric variation in the size of the eyes, which become relatively larger with increased size. In the smallest workers measured (HW 0.32) the ratio EL/HW is 0.31. As HW increases the ratio increases, until in the largest workers (HW 0.42), EL/HW is 0.45. In full-face view the outer margins of the eyes of the smallest workers just graze the outline of the side of the head, whereas in larger workers the anterior halves of the outer margins of the eyes clearly interrupt the outlines of the sides.

V. conciliatrix appears to be a quite widely distributed but rare species. Its rarity is more likely apparent than real because it nests and forages in trees, rarely if ever coming down to the ground. Its type-locality at Tafo, in Ghana, was within the grounds of the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, where a nest of the species was discovered in a thin twig of a small cocoa tree, about 2 metres above the ground, in moderate shade. The nest contained 103 workers, 2 dealate queens and a number of brood. A second, smaller nest was also found at Tafo the following year, located just a few metres from the first, but the species does not appear to have been found there again. Brown (1975) recorded two paratypes from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Yanoviak et al. (2007) retrieved conciliatrix from forest canopy in Gabon. Recently, Peter Hawkes (AFRC) has sent us excellent photographs of a hand-collected specimen found in primary forest in Tanzania (Lindi Region, Ndimba Forest Reserve, 2008 (Hawkes, Mlacha & Ninja)).

Material examined. Ghana: Eastern Ghana, Tafo (= New Tafo (Akim)), 27.xi.1970 (B. Bolton) [Also a second series from the same locality but 18.i.1971 (B. Bolton).] Gabon: Ogooué-Maritime Prov., Gamba (S.P. Yanoviak). Democratic Rebublic of Congo: Yangambi, Rés. Intég. Riv. “Luco” (Raignier & van Boven).