Nylanderia lepida (Santschi, 1915) (Figs. 25–27, 79 [worker]; 28–30 [queen]; 31–33, 92–94 [male]) Prenolepis (Nylanderia) lepida Santschi, 1915: 262 (worker described). Holotype worker, CAMEROON: Victoria (Dr. Reichensperger) (NHMB) [examined]. Emery, 1925: 218, combination in Paratrechina (Nylanderia); LaPolla et al., 2010: 127, combination in Nylanderia. Prenolepis (Nylanderia) grisoni Forel, 1916: 440 (worker described). 4 syntype workers, D.R. CONGO (MHNG) [examined]. Emery, 1925: 218, combination in Paratrechina (Nylanderia); LaPolla et al., 2010: 127, combination in Nylanderia. SYN. NOV. Paratrechina (Nylanderia) grisoni var. fuscula Menozzi, 1942: 178. Holotype worker, EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Fernando Po Island [not examined, depository unknown]. LaPolla et al., 2010: 127, combination in Nylanderia. SYN. NOV. Worker diagnosis: Overall darker brown, with distinctly smooth and shining cuticle; mesocoxae and metacoxae whitish, with trochanters and other joints of the legs similarly whitish in color. Compare with: N. impolita WORKER. Measurements (n = 14): TL: 1.2–2.6; HW: 0.44–0.58; HL: 0.53–0.68; EL: 0.1–0.18; SL: 0.60– 0.81; PW: 0.30–0.42; WL: 0.69–0.93; GL: 0.58–0.98 Indices: CI: 78–88; REL: 24–28; SI: 136–152 Overall dark brown with lighter mandibles, antennae, and legs; mesocoxae, metacoxae, trochanters, femurs distally, tibia, and tarsi yellowish to white; area around acidopore yellowish. Cuticle generally smooth and shining, except mesonotum, which is faintly rugulose. Head with scattered pubescence; posterior margin broadly rounded, with distinctly rounded posterolateral corners; scapes surpass posterior margin by about the length of the first three funicular segments; scapes with erect macrosetae (SMC = 12–30) and a layer of pubescence. Pronotum and mesonotum with scattered erect macrosetae of varying lengths (PMC = 3–6; MMC = 2); sparse pubescence on dorsum. Pronotum rounded towards mesonotum; mesonotal area distinct with prominent spiracles; metanotal area elongate; dorsal face of propodeum high and dome-like (higher than mesonotum); dorsal face slightly longer than declivitous face. Gaster shining, with erect macrosetae and occasional pubescence. QUEEN. Measurements (n = 2): TL: 4.1–5.4; HW: 0.71–0.92; HL: 0.76–0.83; EL: 0.31–0.42; SL: 0.81–0.92; PW: 0.95–1.24; WL: 1.2–1.5; GL: 2.2–3.1 Indices: CI: 93–110; REL: 40–50; SI: 100–114 As in worker but with modifications expected for caste. Entire body covered in a dense pubescence; eyes large, but not strongly convex, about half the length of the head lateral margin; scapes and pronotum with no erect setae (PMC = 0); mesonotum and metanotum with scattered erect setae (MMC = 13). MALE. Measurements (n = 2): TL: 1.6–2.0; HW: 0.45–0.49; HL: 0.47–0.5; EL: 0.21–0.25; SL: 0.52–0.59; PW: 0.47–0.55; WL: 0.52–0.74; GL: 0.63–0.81 Indices: CI: 95–98; REL: 42–50; SI: 117–121 Overall brown, with lighter brown to yellow mandibles, antennae and legs (lightest on trochanters); cuticle smooth and shining. Head with suberect to erect macrosetae and a dense layer of pubescence. Compound eyes large (more than half the length of head lateral margin), strongly convex, surpassing lateral margin in full-frontal view, with ocelli large and raised. Scapes surpass posterior margin by about the length of the first 4 funicular segments; scapes with sparsely scattered, erect macrosetae (SMC = 2–4). Mandible masticatory margin edentate, except for distinct apical tooth; basal angle of mandible distinct. Mesosoma enlarged and modified to accommodate flight muscles; with dense layer of pubescence and scattered erect setae (PMC = 0; MMC = 10); declivity with scattered pubescence, largely smooth and shining. Gaster with pubescence and erect macrosetae. Genitalia (figs. 92–94): parameres broadly rounded at apices curving dorsally covering most of the dorsal opening; apical margin of parameres emarginate; ventral margin of parameres at an acute angle; cuspi elongated, apices rounded with peglike teeth on ental surface where they meet digit; digiti apices broad; peg-like teeth at apices dorsally, ventrally coming to a narrow point that curves towards parameres. Non-type material examined. ANGOLA: Salazar (also called: N'dalatando), 9°17.904' S, 14°54.850' E *, March 1972 (P. Hammond); CAMEROON: Prov. Sud Res. Campo. Massif des Mamelles, 15.1 km, 84° E. Ebodje, 2°35.7' N, 9°57.6' E, 180 m, 4 April 2000 (B.L. Fisher); Prov. Sud-Ouest, Bimbia Forest, 7.4 km 119° ESE Limbe, 3°58.9' N, 9°15.8' E, 40 m, 14 April 2000 (B.L. Fisher); Prov. Sud Res. de Faune de Campo, 2.16 km, 106° ESE Ebodje, 2°34.1' N, 9°50.7' E, 10 m, 9 April 2000 (B.L. Fisher); Mbalmayo, 3°30.932' N, 11°30.051' E *, 655 m, Nov 1993 (N. Stork); Ottotomo, 3°39' N, 11°19' E *, 2 April 1989 (A. Dejean); CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUB- LIC: PN Dzanga-Ndoki, 38.6 km 173°S Lidjombo, 2°21.60' N, 16°03.20' E, 350 m, 22 May 2001 (S. van Noort); Res. Dzanga-Sangha, 12.7 km, 326° NW Bayanga, 3°09' N 16°12' E, 340 m, 17 Oct 2001 (B.L. Fisher); PN Dzanga-Ndoki, 39.6 km 174° S Lidjombo, 2°21' N, 16.09' E, 340 m, 24 May 2001 (B.L. Fisher); Res. Dzanga- Sangha, 21.4 km, 53° NE Bayanga, 3°02.01' N, 16°24.57' E, 510 m, 5 May 2001 (S. van Noort); PN Dzanga-Ndoki Mabea Bai, 21.4 km 53° NE Bayanga, 3°02.00' N, 16°24.60' E, 510 m, 4 May 2001 (S. van Noort); Res. Dzanga- Sangha, 12.7 km, 326° NW Bayanga, 3°00.27' N, 16°11.55', 420 m, 11–17 May 2001 (S. van Noort); PN Dzanga- Ndoki, Mabea Bai, 21.4 km, 53° NE Bayanga, 3°02' N, 16°25' E, 510 m, 7 May 2001 (B.L. Fisher); Res. Dzanga- Sangha, 12.7 km, 326° NW Bayanga, 3.00' N, 16°12' E, 370 m, 10–17 May 2001 (B.L. Fisher); GABON: Prov. Woleu-Ntem, 31.3 km 108° ESE Minvoul, 2°04.8' N, 12°24.4'E, 600 m, 7 Feb 1998 (B.L. Fisher); Prov. Ogooue- Maritime, Moukalaba, 12.2 km 305° NW Doussala, 2°17.0' S, 10°29.8' E, 10 m, 24 Feb 2000 (B.L. Fisher); Prov. Ogooue-Maritime, Res Monts Doudou, 24.3 km, 307° NW Doussala, 2°13.4' S, 10°24.4'E, 375 m, 6 March 2000 (B.L. Fisher); Prov. Ogooue-Maritime, Res. Moukalaba 12.2 km, 305° NW Doussala, 2°17.0' S, 10°29.8'E, 10 m, 24 Feb 2000 (B.L. Fisher); La Makande, Foret des Abeilles, 0°20.684' S, 11°33.593' E *, 1 Feb 1999 (S. Lewis); Mankokou, 0°33.746' N, 12°51.449' E *, Oct 1972 (I. Lieberburg); GHANA: Mampong, 7°3.641' N, 1°24.266' W *, April 1970 (P. Room); Tafo, 6°12.974' N, 0°22.247' W *, 4 Aug 1970 (B. Bolton); Mampong, 7°3.641' N, 1°24.266' W *, 26 Jan 1970 (P. Room); Asiakwa nr. Kibi, 6°15.835' N, 0°30.130' W *, 1 May 1992 (R. Belshaw); Tafo (Cocoa Research Institution), 6°12.974' N, 0°22.247' W *, 11 Dec 1991 (R. Belshaw); Bunso nr. Tafo, 6°12' N, 1°49' W *, 12 April 1992 (R. Belshaw); IVORY COAST: Mt Tonkoui, 7°27.240' N, 7°38.220' W *, 9 Oct 1980 (V. Mahnert & JL Perret); NIGERIA: Owena, CRIN (Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria), 7°11.663' N, 5°1.389' E *, 24 Sept 1975 (B. Taylor); Gambari Forest Reserve, 7°8.000' N, 3°50.000' E *, 31 Dec 1969 (B. Bolton); Gambari Forest Reserve, 7°8.000' N, 3°50.000' E *, 10 June 1969 (B. Bolton); SÃO TOMÉ: Roca Zampalma, 0°14.7' N, 6°36.0' E *, 10 Sept 1949 (G.R. Gradwell & D. Snow); UGANDA: Ruwenzori Range, Semliki Forest, 0°48.839' N, 30°3.240' E *, 22 Aug 1952 (D.S. Fletcher) Notes. In most instances this is an easily identified species, possessing among the shiniest cuticles of any Afrotropical Nylanderia. A few specimens examined exhibited a faintly rugulose cuticle, especially on the head and mesonotum. With these specimens, the cuticular rugosity is always much less defined than is observed in N. impolita. In instances where a faintly rugulose cuticle is observed, the overall size and the length of the scape can effectively separate N. lepida from N. impolita.

Published as part of Lapolla, John S., Hawkes, Peter G. & Fisher, Brian L., 2011, Monograph of Nylanderia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the World, Part I: Nylanderia in the Afrotropics, pp. 10-36 in Zootaxa 3110 on pages 18-20, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.279290