Messor ferreri Collingwood

Type location Kenya (Collingwood, 1993: 229, illustrated, worker) - no images on Antweb (January 2015) .

Collingwood's (1993) description is at .

I previously thought this might be a junior synonym of Messor ruginodis but specimens of the latter from Sudan, and that from Kenya below, show the separation of ferreri. Collingwood's image may be slightly misleading as he notes the three paratype workers do not have erect hairs on the propodeum; the illustrated specimen also peculiarly only had a single erect hair on the propodeum, one would expect such hairs to at least be paired.  That shown below has no erect hairs on the propodeum but is probably a media specimen. The heavily striated and obtusely angular propodeum, sculptured petiole and quite thick scape set it aside also from Messor galla I have from Sudan and West Africa.

Oxford University Museum specimens

Messor ferreri B Taylor det.	Kenya Dupont & Braet	24.iii-11.iv.2010 Subukia 0°0’42.9" N 38°14’52.3" E		1
Messor ferreri B Taylor det.	Ethiopia A Pauly	17.x.2011 Simien Mts 13°11' N 38°04' E	3252 m Yellow pan trap st 22 Media & minor workers	2

The photomontage is of a worker from Kenya, Subukia, 24.iii-11.iv.2010; 0°0'42.9" N 36°14'52.3" E; collectors Dupont & Braet.

The photomontage is of a media worker from Ethiopia, Mt Simiens; A Pauly.

The photomontage is of a minor worker from Ethiopia, Mt Simiens; A Pauly.