The Ants of Africa
Genus Pheidole
Pheidole caffra Emery

Pheidole caffra Emery

return to key {link to the Hymenoptera Name Server} Type location South Africa (Pheidole caffra n. sp., Emery, 1895h: 33, major; Santschi, 1939b: 239, minor) - see major below
junior synyonym (here)
montivaga (Pheidole caffra Em. v. montivaga n. var., Santschi, 1939b: 240, illustrated, all forms) from Zimbabwe - see below
all forms described (see Bolton, 1995) .


{Pheidole caffra}Emery's (1895h) description is at {original description}. Arnold (1920a: 478) gave a translation, this is at {original description} Santschi's (1939b) description of montivaga is at {original description}. Santschi (1939b) gave an illustrated comparison of the type with montivaga and abyssinica, this is at {original description}.

The last indicates that abyssinica is not a subspecies of caffra.

It is quite clear from the original Emery description that true caffra does not have strongly marked sculpturation on the occiput and the frontal carinae reach the posterior quarter of the head; the colour also is given as ferruginous dull with the gaster piceous and shiny. It is my view that the common fault of Forel in defining subspecies or varieties rather than species led to confusion. Therefore, I have raised the quite distinctive Pheidole bayeri Forel and at least Pheidole senilifrons Wheeler to species (the latter with thysvillensis as a probable junior synonym). The availability of cotype photographs of abyssinica show that also to be a separate species Pheidole abyssinica Forel with amoena as a junior synonym


{Pheidole caffra major}The photomontage of the type major worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0904210.


{Pheidole caffra major}The photomontage of the montivaga type major worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0913284.


{Pheidole caffra major}The photomontage of the montivaga type minor worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0913285.


Note the major worker of amoeana shown at http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0907815 appears similar to the major of Pheidole senilifrons.

Note the minor worker shown at http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0904211 is not caffra.  It appears very similar to the minor of Pheidole bequaerti.


Oxford University Museum specimens

Pheidole caffra
B Taylor det.
Central African Republic
P Annoyer
LS
15.xi.2010
Dzanga-Sangha
2°27'11.6"N
16°04'58.7"E
343 m; jour, à vue derrière le village, Molongo, strate arbustive (Casside land)

2
{album}
Pheidole caffra
B Taylor det.
Central African Republic
P Annoyer
MI
19.xi.2010
Dzanga-Sangha
2°28'45.9"N
16°13'15.0"E
396 m; nuit, à vue, au camp de transit 2 (près lac 1)
major worker
1
{album}
Pheidole caffra
B Taylor det.
Sudan
Awatif Omer
2013.02.25
2013
Abu Hijar
12˚52' N
34˚0' E
hand collected
major worker
1
{album}
Pheidole caffra
B Taylor det.
male
Sudan
Awatif Omer
2013.02.32
2013
Abu Hijar
12˚52' N
34˚0' E
hand collected
probable identification

{album}

{Pheidole caffra major}The photomontage is of a major from Central African Republic; Dzanga-Sangha NP; collector P. Annoyer (CAR MI).


{Pheidole caffra minor}The photomontage is of a minor from Central African Republic; Dzanga-Sangha NP; collector P. Annoyer (CAR LS).


{Pheidole caffra major}The photomontage is of a major from Sudan, Abu Hijar, collector Awatif Omer. TL ca 4.5 mm, HL 1.40, HW 1.33


{Pheidole caffra male}The photomontage is of a probable male from Sudan, Abu Hijar, collector Awatif Omer. TL ca 4.5 mm, HL 1.40, HW 1.33


{Pheidole abyssinica major}The photomontage is of a major from Ethiopia, sent to me by Peter Hlavac and in his personal collection.

A full set of images can be seen in {album}


{Pheidole abyssinica major}The photomontage is of a second major from Ethiopia, sent to me by Peter Hlavac and in his personal collection.

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© 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018 - Brian Taylor CBiol FRSB FRES
11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K.

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