SUBFAMILY FORMICINAE - Genus Polyrhachis subgenus Myrma
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The Ants of
Africa SUBFAMILY FORMICINAE - Genus Polyrhachis subgenus Myrma |
| Contents - Formicinae - FORMICINAE Introduction |
Genus Polyrhachis F.Smith (1857a: 58)In Tribe CAMPONOTINI. Diagnostic Features - Antennae 12-segmented, with the
scapes inserted some distance behind the posterior clypeal margin. Eyes
well developed. Mandibles usually with five, rarely four teeth.
Pronotum armed with a pair of spines, teeth or tubercules; the
propodeum usually similarly armed or with a pair of ridges, rarely with
only a single transverse ridge or unarmed. Promesonotal suture usually
present, development of the metanotal groove variable. Margination of
the alitrunk variable, often present and complete but showing all
stages through to a fully emarginate condition. Petiole usually with
four but occasionally two or six spines or teeth of variable
configuration. Acidopore not borne upon a conical projection of the
hypopigium, usually concealed by the pygidium when not in use. Smith's
(1857a) genus definition is at Fully revised by Bolton (1973b), all the species fall within
the subgenus Myrma Billberg (1820: 104). This placement was
supported by Dorow (1995a: 30). Bolton's full text can be found at - Bolton,
B. 1973. The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in the
Ethiopian region (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bull.
Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Entomol. 28:
285-369. View or download entire file (6.8M) Billberg, G.J. 1820. Enumeratio Insectorum in Museo G. J.
Billberg. Stockhom. 138 pp - not listed in HNS Santschi's (1939c) key to Pseudocrytomyrma species,
termed by Bolton (1973b) as the revoili-complex, is at Radoskowsky (1881: 197) listed Polyrhachis setulosus F Smith from Angola, collected by Welwitsch. Bolton (1973: 352) reported neither he, nor, earlier, Wheeler (1922) could find any mention of this species in the Smith literature, let alone any description, so he regarded the name as a nomen nudum. Bolton (1973a: 352) also noted that the F Smith (1858: 73) statement of Polyrhachis consimilis being from Sierra Leone was probably an error, as the only related species are known solely from the Indo-Australian Region. Rigato
(2016) reviewed the extant situation and added several
new species plus revised status species. He made no reference to this
website or the records I have compiled. Even more curious, he listed
only one finding of any species from Nigeria. Yet on Antweb, for
instance, the Polyrhachis phidias page
has CASENT0906825 identified by B. Bolton and bearing my label! The
record was published in Taylor (1978: 23), together with another 8
species - see Taylor ant
guide list. Ten new sub-Saharan species of the ant genus Polyrhachis are described: P. gibbula n. sp. and P. omissa n. sp. belonging in the viscosa-group; P. brevipilosa n. sp. [not on
Antweb], P. dubia n. sp. [not
on Antweb], P. longiseta n.
sp. [not on Antweb], P. luteipes
n. sp. [not on Antweb], P.
submarginata n. sp. [CASENT0087089], and P. terminata n. sp. [not on Antweb]
in the revoili-group; P. doudou n. sp. [CASENT0919958],
and P. fisheri n. sp.
[CASENT0919957] in the militaris-group.
Also, P. epinotalis Santschi
[CASENT0910908], and P. kohli Forel
[CASENT0910954] are revived from synonymy with P. militaris (Fabr.) [no type
survived] and P. volkarti
Forel [type queen CASENT0910957], respectively. The type of P. cubaensis Mayr [CASENT0910945]
is described, changing the interpretation of the taxon and revalidating
two of its synonyms, P. gerstaeckeri
Forel [CASENT0910945] and P. wilmsi Forel stat. n.
FOCOL2584]. The examination of the type of Polyrhachis revoili André
[CASENT0910956] has proved this taxon to be different from previous
interpretations; its position is reviewed and all of its synonyms are
transferred to P. weissi Santschi.
In addition, the first description of the worker of P. andrei Emery is provided
[CASENT0250043, from DRC?, not associated with a queen], as well as
some new records and taxonomic and morphological notes concerning other
species. |
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| 1 | Clypeus with a shallow, rectangular lobe flanked by a pair of denticles or teeth; eyes situated well up on the head, usually not breaking the outline of the sides in full face view; alitrunk broadened and foreshortened, with a swollen appearance in dorsal view; pronotum always marginate, at least for part of its length, but either the mesonotum or propodeum or both not marginate; propodeum unarmed, the declivity extremely deep | 2 |
| -- | Clypeus either arcuate and entire or with a truncated median lobe; eyes breaking the outline of the head, except when the eyes are flat; alitrunk without a foreshortened and swollen appearance; alitrunk usually either marginate or totally without lateral margination; if partially marginate then propodeum armed | 6 |
| 2 | Petiole armed with two spines or teeth | 3 |
| -- | Petiole armed with four spines or teeth | 4 |
| 3 |  TL 7.4-7.6 mm; propodeum without
a posterior transverse
margination separating the dorsum from the declivity; petiole
dorsolaterally with two long spines, curved backwards and somewhat
outwards at their apices, so that the whole petiole is lyre-shaped* in key only |
West Africa & Congo Basin - curta |
| -- |  TL 5.5-5.7 mm;
propodeum with a weak posterior transverse
margination separating the dorsum from the declivity. Petiole
dorsolaterally with a pair of small triangular teeth* |
Ghana and Congo Basin; Kenya - lestoni |
| 4 |  Propodeum marginate
laterally and posteriorly, separating
dorsum |
5 |
| -- |  TL 4.8 mm; propodeum
not marginate, dorsum rounding into
sides and declivity* |
Cameroun & Congo Basin - alexisi |
| 5 |  TL 6.5-7.0 mm; in
dorsal view sides of propodeum widening
below lateral margins; sides of face concave* |
Ghana (DRCongo) - latharis |
| -- |  TL
6.5 mm; propodeum not wider below lateral margins; sides of face
straight |
Congo Basin (Tanzania) - limitis |
| . | Clypeus either arcuate and entire or with a truncated median lobe; eyes breaking the outline of the head, except when the eyes are flat; alitrunk without a foreshortened and swollen appearance; alitrunk usually either marginate or totally without lateral margination; if partially marginate then propodeum armed | . |
| 6 | Pronotum not at all marginate | 7 |
| -- | Pronotum marginate at least for part of its length, present as a raised or projecting flange, a ridge or an acute angle separating the dorsum from the sides | 17 |
| 7 |  TL 6.1 mm; eyes flat
and somewhat sunk into the surface of
the head; all surfaces with numerous erect hairs, pubescence greyish
and densest on alitrunk* list and key only |
Cameroun - platyomma |
| -- |  Eyes
convex, not sunk into the surface of the head |
8 |
| 8 | Metanotal groove broad and deeply impressed; propodeum armed with a pair of long upturned spines; petiole with four long back-curved spines; dorsum of alitrunk with numerous stout, usually yellow hairs | 9 |
| -- |  Metanotal groove
weakly developed or absent. propodeum
unarmed or with a pair of tubercles, teeth or ridges which are notably
smaller than those of the pronotum; petiole with a dorsal pair of
spines and a lateral pair of teeth or shorter spines; no or only fine
hairs on the alitrunk dorsum |
10 |
| 9 |  TL 5.5-6.4 mm;
promesonotal suture broad and deeply
impressed; propodeum without a median tuberculiform prominence between
the spines* list & key only |
West Africa & Congo Basin - monista |
| -- |  TL 4.8-5.6 mm;
promesonotal suture narrow, not impressed.
Propodeum with a median tubercular prominence between the spines* |
West Africa & Congo Basin - spitteleri |
| 10 | Antennal scapes or alitrunk dorsum or both with erect hairs; mesoscutellum not visible on alitrunk dorsum | 11 |
| -- |
 TL 7.7-8.5 mm;
antennal scapes and alitrunk dorsum without
erect hairs; mesoscutellum visible on alitrunk dorsum (no worker image) |
South Africa - gamaii |
| 11 | Pronotal dorsum sculptured | 11A |
| -- | Pronotal dorsum smooth and polished, armed with a pair of small-minute teeth or tubercles | 15 |
| 11A |  Propodeum unarmed posteriorly, the dorsum and the
declivity very weakly separated. Longest hairs on tibiae much longer
than the maximum tibial width. (Rigato). |
Cameroun, Rep. of the Congo - longiseta |
| -- | Propodeum armed | 12 |
| 12 | Propodeum armed posteriorly with a pair of transverse ridges separating the dorsum from the declivity | 13 |
| -- | Propodeum armed posteriorly with a pair of short upcurved teeth, between which the dorsum curves into the declivity | 14 |
| 12a | Median portion of clypeus projecting anteriorly as a truncated rectangular lobe | 13 |
| -- | Median portion of clypeus arcuate and entire without as a truncated rectangular lobe | 13A |
| 13 |  TL 5.9 mm; median
clypeal margin with anterior projecting
lobe, slender; long scapes SI 181Propodeum in dorsal view distinctly longer than wide. Longest standing hairs on tibiae about as long as the maximum tibial width (Rigato). |
Congo Basin - kohli |
| -- |
 Propodeum in dorsal view slightly wider than long.
Longest standing hairs on tibiae about as long as half the maximum
tibial width (Rigato). |
Congo Basin - volkarti |
| Median portion of clypeus arcuate and entire without as a truncated rectangular lobe | . | |
| 13A |  TL 5.9-6.1 mm; median
clypeal margin arcuate and entire,
stouter* list & key only Rigato - Head and dorsum of mesosoma mostly longitudinally rugulose. The whole body appearing matte. Pubescence on the gaster long: each element much longer than the distance separating adjacent ones. Propodeal ridges and pronotal teeth distinct |
Congo Basin - lanuginosa |
| -- |
 Rigato - Head and dorsum of mesosoma irregularly
sculptured, longitudinal rugulation at most ill-defined. Head and
mesosoma weakly, gaster distinctly, shining. Pubescence on the gaster
relatively sparse and short: each element at most slightly longer than
the distance separating adjacent ones. Propodeal ridges faint, pronotal
teeth minute. |
Cameroun -
dubia |
| -- |  TL ca 5.3 mm, HL 1.20,
HW 1.10, SL 1.35, PW 0.90; CI 85, SI 120Head finely but distinctly sculptured, with a short longitudinal groove terminating in a pit-like depression posteriorly, close to the antennal insertion; dorsum of alitrunk with sutures, but not incised; anterior corners of pronotum with short but distinct teeth; mandibles mostly bright orange (others above completely dark) |
Central African Republic - n sp CAR Moretto |
| 14 | Queen only known - images on
species page. (not in Rigato's key) |
Somalia only - revoili |
| -- |  TL 5.7-6.1 mm; scape
with not more than 10 erect hairs;
dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum sharply rugose. |
West Africa & Congo Basin - weissi |
| Pronotal dorsum smooth and polished, armed with a pair of small-minute teeth or tubercles | . | |
| 15 |  TL 5.7-5.9 mm; HL
1.30, HW 1.19, SL 1.54, PW 1.12; CI 91, SI 128Head unsculptured, with a short longitudinal groove terminating in a pit-like depression posteriorly, close to the antennal insertion; dorsum of alitrunk with sutures, albeit poorly developed * list & key only |
Ghana - braxa |
| -- |
Head weakly but distinctly
sculptured |
16 |
| 16 |  TL 5.2-5.6 mm, HL
1.20, HW 0.96, SL 1.38, PW 0.85; CI 80, SI 148 Head sculptured, but without a groove or pit, and alitrunk without sutures * list & key only |
Ghana - khepra |
| -- |  Rigato: Clypeus ecarinate
and with its anterior margin bearing a distinct protruding rectangular
lobe, whose lateral corners are right-angled. Head about as smooth as
the mesosoma. Dorsum of mesosoma with a distinct promesonotal and a
weak metanotal suture. Standing hairs relatively short and never
sinuate.HL 1.09, HW 0.90, CI 83, SL 1.30, SI 144, FW 0.34, FI 38, PW 0.68, WL 1.40, HTL 1.16. Holotype and paratypes with light antennal scapes (testaceous or brown) |
Cameroun - luteipes |
 |
Pronotum marginate at least for part of its length, present as a raised or projecting flange, a ridge or an acute angle separating the dorsum from the sides | . |
| 17 | Metanotal groove represented only by a line or an indistinct scoring; metanotal groove never impressed, sometimes absent | 18 |
| -- | Metanotal grove distinct, broad and always impressed | 27 |
| 18 | Antennal scapes with numerous erect hairs at right angles to the shaft | 18A |
| -- | Antennal scapes without erect hairs | 21 |
| 18A |  Rigato - Propodeal dorsum and declivity separated by a
continuous, well developed ridge. Size large, HL > 2.50. |
Tanzania - terminata |
| -- | Rigato - Propodeal dorsum and declivity medially confluent, at most laterally separated by a pair of ridges. Size small, HL < 2.00 | 19 |
| 19A | Rigato - Larger species, HL > 1.40 | 19B |
| -- | Rigato - Smaller species, HL < 1.35 | 2X |
| 19B |  Rigato - Pronotal margination weak. Scape relatively
longer, SI > 160. |
Central African Republic - submarginata |
| -- | Rigato - Pronotal margination well developed. Scape relatively shorter, SI < 150 | 19C |
| 19C |  TL 6.8-7.6 mm;
propodeum with a pair of transverse ridges
separating the dorsum from the declivity, the ridges fail to meet
medially and a small but distinct gap is present |
West Africa & Congo Basin - otleti |
| -- | Propodeum with a pair of teeth or minute tubercles, between which the dorsum curves into the declivity over its entire width | 20 |
| 20 |  TL 7.2 mm;
sculpturation of head between eye and frontal
carina regularly and finely striato-rugose; dorsum of mesonotum
laterally angled* in list and key only |
Uganda - transiens |
| -- |  TL 4.4-4.8 mm;
sculpturation of head between eye and
frontal carina an irregular rugo-reticulum; dorsum of mesonotum
laterally roundedRigato - Mid pair of petiolar spines more than twice as long as the tooth-like lateral pair. Many erect hairs on scapes that are much longer than maximum scape diameter. Tibiae and tarsi testaceous, basally piceous |
Ghana & Congo - regesa |
| 20 |  Rigato - Mid pair of
petiolar spines at most 1.5 times as long as the spiniform lateral
pair. Few erect hairs on scapes, hardly longer than maximum scape
diameter. Tibiae and tarsi piceous.HL 1.07, HW 0.89, CI 83, SL 1.21, SI 136, FW 0.33, FI 37, PW 0.79, WL 1.27, HTL |
Congo Basin - brevipilosa |
| . | Antennal scapes without erect hairs | . |
| 21 |  TL 6.2 mm; propodeum
not marginate laterally, pronotum
very weakly marginate for about half its length. sculpturation
everywhere a fine reticulation or reticulate-puncturation* in list and key only |
Cameroun - aenescens |
| -- | Propodeum marginate laterally; pronotum marginate throughout its length. Sculpturation of alitrunk a fine reticulate-puncturation overlaid by longitudinal rugae or a loose rugoreticulum | 22 |
| 22 |  Propodeum
with a transverse ridge running between the spines of teeth and
separating the dorsum from the declivity; ridge with a median tooth |
23 |
| -- |  Propodeum
without such a transverse ridge and no median tooth, petiole with a
single pair of well-developed dorsolateral spines and no more than
small teeth between on dorsum |
26 |
| 23 |  TL 5.9-7.6 mm; apex
of scape dramatically broadened,
concealing first segment of funiculus; eyes usually flat |
Sahel savannah - viscosa |
| -- |
Apex of funiculus not
dramatically broadened |
24 |
| 24 |  TL 7.0-8.9 mm;
petiole with a single pair of
well-developed spines at dorsolateral corners and small spines betweenRigato - Propodeal dorsum posterolaterally bearing a pair of relatively well-developed raised spines. Dorsum of propodeum curving evenly into the declivity |
West Africa & Congo Basin - nigrita |
| -- |  Rigato - Propodeal dorsum
posteriorly bearing a median lobe and posterolaterally a pair of
upturned small teeth. Dorsum of propodeum often separated from the
declivity by a thin ridge.Holotype worker: HL 1.62, HW 1.49, CI 92, SL 1.80, SI 121, FW 0.41, FI 28 PW 1.33, WL 2.10, HTL 1.70. |
East Africa & Yemen - omissa |
| 26 |  TL 7.0-8.1 mm; gaster
finely longitudinally striate* in list & key only |
South Africa - arnoldi |
| -- |
Gaster finely reticulo-punctate | 26A |
| 26A |  TL 6.7-7.3 mm;
petiole with two pairs of well-developed
spines, dorsal pair being longerRigato - Propodeum without a transverse raised ridge running between the spines or teeth and separating the dorsum from the declivity, the dorsum passing through an angle or curving directly into the declivity, median tooth or tubercle absent. * in list & key only |
South Africa - durbanensis |
| -- | Rigato - Propodeum with a transverse raised
ridge running between the spines or teeth and separating the dorsum
from the declivity, the ridge often raised into a tooth or tubercle medially . |
26B |
| 26B |
 Rigato - Head in full face view trapezoidal, with
distinct, rounded posterior corners. Head and mesosoma regularly
longitudinally rugulose. |
Kenya,
Tanzania - gibbula |
| -- |
Rigato - Head in full face view more or less
oval, without distinct posterior corners. Head and mesosoma mostly
reticulate-punctate, superimposed longitudinal rugulation usually weak and often more or less effaced |
26C |
| -- |
Not in the Rigato key as queen
only known |
South
Africa - cubaensis |
| 26C |  Rigato - Posterior
propodeal corners with small, upturned teeth, which are much smaller
than the pronotal teeth. |
Kenya & Tanzania - gerstaeckeri |
| -- |
Rigato - Posterior propodeal corners with well developed, more or less upturned spines, which are similar in size to pronotal teeth | 25A |
| 25A |  Rigato - Frons and vertex
bearing some pairs of standing hairs. |
Mozambique - wilmsi |
| -- |  TL 6.1-7.0 mm;
propodeum with a transverse ridge between
the spines and but not raised medially into a tooth or tubercle;
propodeal spines directed posterolaterally with only slight upcurveRigato - Frons and vertex without standing hairs. |
South & East Africa - spinicola |
|
Metanotal grove distinct, broad and always impressed | . |
| 27 | Petiole with two spines | 28 |
| -- | Petiole with more than two spines | 29 |
| 28 |  TL 10.2-11.6 mm; petiolar
spines subparallel and hooked
apically, clypeus carinate, pubescence golden* in list and key only |
West Africa & Congo Basin - laboriosa |
| -- |  TL 8.3-8.7 mm; petiolar
spines divergent, curved but not
hooked, clypeus smooth, pubescence not golden* |
S Congo Basin & Angola - wellmani |
| . | Petiole with more than two spines | . |
| 29 | Petiole with six teeth | 29A |
| -- | Petiole with four spines or teeth | 30 |
| 29A |  TL 4.7-6.7 mm;
petiole with six spines or teeth the
smallest pair situated behind the lateral pair of spinesRigato: "Eyes placed behind the midlength of head sides. Petiole with a median pair of teeth and laterally with a pair of spines, each one bearing posteriorly a small tooth. The latter may even be reduced to a blunt tubercle." |
West Africa & Congo Basin (Uganda forest) - decemdentata. |
| -- | Queen only; TL 7-8 mm;
photographs on species page |
|
| . |
 Rigato designated worker"Eyes placed slightly in front of midlength of head sides. Petiole with a median pair of teeth and laterally with two pairs of long spines of similar length placed one in front of the other" |
West Africa, Congo & Tanzania - andrei |
| . | Petiole with more than two spines | . |
| 30 | Pronotal dorsum without erect hairs | 31 |
| -- | Pronotal dorsum with erect hairs | 37 |
| 31 | Dorsum of head with a pair of erect hairs situated on a level with the posterior margins of the eyes, or, if lost pits, marking location | 32 |
| -- | Dorsum of head without erect hairs | 33 |
| 32 |  TL 7.4-7.8 mm;
anterior clypeal margin with a small
shallow impression or notch medially; antennal scapes relatively
extremely long; propodeal margins slightly arcuate and widening to
position of teeth |
Ghana & CAR - decellei |
| -- |  Anterior clypeal
margin arcuate and entire; antennal
scapes relatively much shorter; propodeal margins straight; entire body
finely and densely reticulate, dully shining |
Ghana & Congo Basin - esarata |
| 33 |  TL 8.6-9.1 mm;
covered overall with very dense silvery
pubescence; pronotum with long downcurved spines* in list & key only |
East & southern Africa - schlueteri |
| -- | Pubescence usually sparse, if dense then not silvery; pronotal spines long or short but not downcurved | 34 |
| 34 |  TL 6.8-7.6 mm; in
posterior view the side of the head at
the ventral margin of the eye projecting below the eye and forming a
shield or blinker; in side view the ventral margin appearing concave,
so that the eye is kidney-shaped; in full-face view the sides of the
head in front of eyes noticeably concave |
West Africa & Congo Basin - concava |
| -- | The side of the head not projecting; sides of head not noticeably concave in full-face view | 35 |
| 35 |  TL < 6 mm;
pronotal dorsum strongly concave
transversely, lateral margins flanged; alitrunk from above and in
profile more slender and relatively elongate* list & key only |
Congo Basin - aerope |
| 36 |  TL 6.7-7.1 mm;
sculpturation of head a fine dense
reticulate-puncturation; on sides of head below and in front of the
eye, and on the genae numerous distinct pits usually in groups of 3-4* list & key only |
. |
| . |  |
West Africa & Congo Basin - alluaudi |
| -- |  TL 5.0-5.4 mm;
sculpturation of head a fine, dense
reticulation; same sculpturation all over head (type specimen damaged) |
West Africa & Congo Basin - rufipalpis |
| . |
Pronotal dorsum with erect hairs | . |
| 37 | Lateral pair of petiole spines as long as, or longer than, the dorsal spines | 38 |
| -- |  Lateral pair of petiole spines
short, always shorter than the dorsal spines and may be reduced to a
pair of short teeth |
43 |
| 38 | Antennal scapes with erect hairs | 39 |
| -- | Antennal scapes without erect hairs | 40 |
| 39 |  TL 5.4-5.9 mm, CI
79-86, SI 128-130; antennal scapes with
numerous erect hairs
projecting from the shaft; apical half of scape yellowish-brown;
propodeum from above with straight sides* list & key only |
West Africa & Congo Basin - asomaningi |
| -- |  TL
5.3 mm, CI 94, SI 100; antennal scapes with few erect hairs; head with
flatter occiput in full face view, lateral angles near square;
propodeum from above with arcuate sides; median spines on petiole
apparently much broader based; only extreme tip of funiculus lighter,
rest black; head and alitrunk sculpturation much finer and more regular |
Congo
- dziodzio new
species |
| 40 |  TL 4.9-5.1 mm; first
gastral tergite finely longitudinally
striate-rugose, with numerous small punctures between the rugae |
West Africa & Congo Basin - phidias |
| -- | First gastral tergite finely superficially reticulate or reticulate-punctate | 41 |
| 41 |
 TL 5.6 mm; petiole with
lateral spines enormously
developed, dorsal pair reduced to spines* list & key only |
Congo Basin - cornuta |
| -- | Petiole with both pairs of spines similar; face with a short, longitudinal shallow groove terminating in a depression posteriorly, situated close to the outer margin of the antennal socket; | 42 |
| 42 |  TL 5.5-6.2 mm; dorsum of
propodeum extremely
finely and longitudinally striate; erect hairs sparse but present on
dorsum of head, pronotum and mesonotum* list & key only |
West Africa & Congo Basin - lauta |
| -- |  TL 5.2-6.3 mm; dorsum of
propodeum with quite fine rugose sculpture, occiput near sooth; gaster
with quite abundant fine erect hairs; generally shinier than bequaerti* list & key only |
West Africa & Congo Basin (Uganda forest) - fissa |
| -- |  TL
5.5-6.2 mm; lateral alitrunk extremely
finely and longitudinally striate; dorsum of pronotum and mesonotum
with coarser longitudinal striations, also on occiput; dorsum of
propodeum with quite coarse transverse striations; erect hairs sparse
but present on
dorsum of head, pronotum and mesonotum but very few and short on dorsal
gaster* Rigato (2016, in list) still has this under fissa. |
West Africa & Congo Basin - bequaerti |
| . |
Lateral pair of petiole spines short, always shorter than the dorsal spines and may be reduced to a pair of short teeth | . |
| 43 |  TL 7.8-9.2 mm;
propodeum not marginate. Entire body very
deeply and regularly striate |
West Africa & Congo Basin - sulcata |
| -- | Propodeum marginate | 44 |
| 44 |  TL 11.3-13.2 mm;
dorsum of alitrunk with no erect hairs
except on pronotum; side of head without erect hairs; gaster highly
polished* list & key only |
savannah areas of south Congo Basin & southern Africa - gagates |
| -- | Dorsum of alitrunk with numerous erect hairs | 45 |
| 45 | Propodeal dorsum separated from declivity by an arched transverse ridge | 46 |
| -- | Propodeal dorsum running smoothly into declivity | 48 |
| 46 | Pronotal spines no more than flattened triangular teeth | 47 |
| 47 |  TL 9.4-11.2
mm; head with fine dense longitudinal rugosity;
pubescence sparse; numerous erect fine, whitish, hairs all over(no type photographs) NOTE: Rigato (2016) had no illustration |
. |
| . |  |
Congo Basin - latispina |
| -- |  TL ca 9.4 mm, HW 1.79,
HL 2.09, SL 1.98,
PW 1.50; CI 86, SI 112Distinctive flattened panel on side of gaster basal segment, the panel covered with dense fine longitudinal striae, |
Ivory Coast - new species - CI Dupont |
| . |
Propodeal dorsum running smoothly into declivity | . |
| 48 | Head in full face view with
rounded occiput |
49 |
| -- | Head in full face view subrectangular; pubescence on most abundant everywhere, hiding the sculpturation and usually with a golden brassy or bronze tinge. | 50 |
| . | Pubescence sparse | . |
| 49 |
Rigato
(2016) Propodeal teeth spine-like, upturned and long, in profile often
almost as long as the height of propodeal declivity . . . . |
49A |
| -- |
Rigato (2016) Propodeal teeth
short, in profile much shorter than the height of propodeal declivity |
49B |
| 49A |  Rigato (2016) new species -
pubescence
mostly inconspicuous and sparse. Standing hairs very long: the longest
ones on scapes and tibiae about as long as thrice and twice scapes’ and
tibial width at midlength respectively. Head and mesosoma mostly
strongly longitudinally rugose |
Gabon - fisheri |
| -- |  TL
11.2-11.4 mm; pronotum with elongate widely divergent spines; head with
fine dense spiculation; pubescence dense and very coarse on the
alitrunk. Description by me of "Polyrhachis
ayousi".?Rigato (2016: ) as epinotalis stat. n. |
Congo Basin east into Central Africa - epinotalis |
| 49A |  TL 9.3-13.7 mm;
usually greyish in colour;
narrow slender species; occiput always smoothy convex in full face
view; scapes with quite abundant erect hairs* list, key & other species notes only |
Pan-African savannah - schistacea |
| -- |  TL 12.6-14.4 mm; alitrunk without flanged
margination and flat to weakly convex; overall sculpturation of fine
superficial reticulation; eyes flat or nearly so* list & key only |
East Africa - medusa |
| . | Pubescence abundant everywhere | . |
| 50 |  TL 10.8-14.1 mm;
alitrunk with marked lateral margination,
especially the pronotum which usually is extended as a raised flange;
the dorsal alitrunk somewhat concave between the margination; head with
longitudinal striate-rugulation; eyes convex |
West Africa & Congo Basin - militaris |
| -- |  Rigato (2016) new species - smaller
(HL < 2.30, WL < 3.20) and stouter. In profile, propodeal dorsum
and declivity about equal in length. Distinctly lesshairy: no standing
hairs on appendages, petiole and on the side of the head sides anterior
to the eyes. |
Gabon - doudou |
| -- |  TL 14.4 mm; occiput almost straight across; striations
on
the face, alitrunk dorsum and
gaster well defined, although very fine and dense on the gaster; scapes
and legs with very fine sculpturation; scapes with nil or very few
erect hairs.; pubescence quite sparse on the
alitrunk to almost nil on the gaster dorsum.* |
Ivory Coast - striativentris |
 |
Subfamily Formicinae |
© 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015,
2017, 2018 -
Brian Taylor CBiol FRSB FRES 11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K. |
href="polyrhachis.htm"
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