Dorylus (Dorylus) spininodis Emery

Type location Cameroun (Dorylus (Dorylus) spininodis n. sp., Emery, 1901c: 194, illustrated, worker) collected by Conradt - see below
subspecies longiceps (Dorylus (s. str.) spininodis Em. subsp. n. longiceps, Viehmeyer, 1914c:26, worker, illustrated) from Tanzania - see below (probably a separate species)
variety punctus (D. (D.) spinodis Em. stirps longiceps Stitz [actually Viehmeyer] v punctus n. var, Santschi, 1933b: 97, worker) from Zaïre - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0911343 (a minor worker)
worker only known (see Bolton, 1995) .

Emery's (1901c) description (comparison is with politus) is at . Viehmeyer's (1914c) description of longiceps is at .

Wheeler (1922) lists findings from Cameroun (Victoria, F. Silvestri), Nigeria (Benin and Olokemeji, F. Silvestri), Congo and Uganda.

The photomontage is of a type major worker collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0903702

The photomontage is of a type (minima or small media) worker collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0903703

Westwood's (1840b) description of Typhlopone shuckardi shows a close, if not identical form to spininodis. The subpetiolar spine as shown is more posterior but the drawing is a little primitive. The TL 5 lines = 10.5 mm; this is bigger than Emery's largest specimen, at TL 6.5 mm; the Gabon specimen shown below, however, also is larger, with TL ca 8.2 mm. If it could be confirmed as a match, this would become the senior name, with spininodis, as a junior synonym.

Nigeria specimen (as Dorylus (Dorylus) species B, Taylor, 1980b: 17). WORKER. TL 7.0-3.5 mm. At least four morphs; largest HL 1.93, HW 1.59, SL 0.62, PW 1.00
Colour red-brown apices darker, legs yellow-brown. Sculpturation of minute scattered hair-pits; reticulation on lateral alitrunk, especially mesonotum, and lateral petiole. Erect hairs sparse but present on petiole as well as gaster; pilosity very sparse and very short. Head near parallel-sided. Mandibles with three blunt teeth. Anterior clypeal margin tridentate, one medial and one forward of each antennal insertion. Frontal carinae with highly raised medial portion to form a near-rectangular platform. Alitrunk flat dorsally. Subpetiolar process a long, rear-curved, narrow, blunt triangle.
I found it nesting and foraging in dead wood on the ground at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Idi Ayunre.

Oxford University Museum specimens

Dorylus (Dorylus) spininodis B Taylor det.

Gabon Maité Ikaran

20.ii.2006 Pongara 00°34' N 09°19' E

in nest of sea turtle, Dermochelya coriacea

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The photomontage is of a major worker from Gabon, Estuaire, Pongara National Park, 20.ii.2006; in nest of sea turtle, Dermochelya coriacea; collector Maité Ikaran; ex Yves Braet.

TL ca 8.2 ca, HW 1.7 HL 2.0. Matches exactly the type major above.

The photomontage is of a media worker from Gabon, as above.

Dorylus longiceps

Santschi (1933b) describing D. (D.) spinodis Em. st. longiceps Stitz {actually Viehmeyer] v punctus n. var. had -
Worker - head elongated as with politus and longiceps with the colour clearer than the latter. It differs from spininodis and longiceps by the spine of the subpetiolar lamina reduced to a simple tooth, as in politus. It differs from the latter by having stronger and more dense puncturation, more dense even than spininodis. On the vertex the puncturations are separated by about three times their diameter; in the media and minor workers each puncture has a fine, erect hair inserted, more visible than in politus and spininodis. Zaïre, Kasaï, Makumbi, 28.x.1921, by Dr H. Schouteden.

From Guinea, 10 minor workers of ssp "longiceps var punctus" were collected from the savanna location of Kéoulenta (27.iii.1942, Lamotte) (Bernard, 1952)

This photomontage of a cotype of longiceps is collated from The Smithsonian Institute images at http://ripley.si.edu/ent/nmnhtypedb/public/specimeninfopage.cfm?publicconsumption=1&typespecimenID=969.

The photomontage is of a type major worker of punctus collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0911342.