Dorylus (Dorylus) pulliceps Santschi - new status

Type location Ivory Coast (Dorylus affinis Shuck. var. pulliceps n. var., Santschi, 1917c: 19, male) collected by J H Lohier .

As shown below, the fresh males from the Central African Republic match Santschi's description and are quite distinct from the type Dorylus (D.) affinis. Thus, I raised this form to species status. Now (June 2014) this is confirmed by the availability of the type male images.

Santschi (1917c) constructed a key to the males of the numerous varieties already known by that time; this, with his description of pulliceps, sudanica is at .

Head blackish, body reddish-brown; TL 20-21 mm, HW 3.8, PW 3.8, wing 14-14.5; scape length reaching only the fifth segment of the funiculus; mandibles relatively longer, with the apex elongated; pilosity on the dorsal alitrunk more evenly arranged; alitrunk appears shiny as the pubescence is scarce; pubescence more abundant on gaster [?? funiculus with first two-three segments fuscous, the remainder yellowish].

The photomontage is of the type male collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0911327

Oxford University Museum specimens

Dorylus (Dorylus) pulliceps B Taylor det. Male

Central African Republic P Annoyer JZ

20.x.2008 Dzanga-Sangha 03°01'49.5" N 16°08'31.7" E

567 m; Camp 2; Nuit; Au camp

1

The photomontage is of a male from the Central African Republic, Dzanga-Sangha National Park; collector Philippe Annoyer.

Details of the above specimen.