SUBFAMILY AMBLYOPONINAE - Genus Prionopelta
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The Ants of
Africa SUBFAMILY AMBLYOPONINAE - Genus Prionopelta |
| Contents - Amblyoponinae - Subfamily Amblyoponinae |
In Tribe AMBLYOPONINI.
Diagnostic Features - Petiole broadly attached to the first gastral segment, the two separated dorsally and laterally only by a constriction; so that the petiole is without a free posterior face. Mandibles relatively short triangular and closing against the clypeus, apical tooth followed by two more teeth. Antenna 8- to 12-segmented with a 3- or 4-segmented club. Alitrunk not marginate nor constricted.
A cryptobiotic genus, post-dating Bolton (1973a) but included in the key in Hölldobler & Wilson (1990).
Terron's (1974) paper is
at 
.
NOTE: Ward & Fisher (2016) placed Concoctio as a junior synonym of Prionopelta based on DNA phylogenetics. That is separable by its 9-segmented antennae and a somewhat heart-shaped head in full face view.
Key to African and Madagascar species
| 1 |  8 segmented antennae;
TL 1.5-1.7 mm; most of dorsum puncturate; abundant short pilosity;
variable yellow-brown, appendages lighter |
West Africa - amieti |
| -- | 10-11 segmented antennae | 2 |
| 2 |  TL 2.0 mm; alitrunk
with only the promesonotal suture visible (metanotal suture visible but
not incised in Rwanda specimen); antenna 10-segmented with 4-segmented
club; petiole with a sub-rectangular antero-ventral process with a
distinct translucent area |
Cameroun & Rwanda - humicola |
| -- | Alitrunk with promesonotal and impressed metanotal sutures | 3 |
| 3 |  TL 2.2 mm; antenna
11-segmented; with fine dense sculpturation all over |
South Africa & Gabon - aethiopica |
| -- |  TL 1.8 mm; antenna
12-segmented; with reduced sculpturation on the alitrunk, petiole and
gaster; and a quite sharp transition from the dorsum to the declivity
on the propodeum; petiole in dorsal view ovoid |
Madagascar - descarpentriesi |
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© 2007, 2016, 2018 - Brian Taylor CBiol FRSB FRES 11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K. |
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