The Ants of Africa
Genus Polyrhachis
Polyrhachis decemdentata André

Polyrhachis decemdentata André

return to key {link to the Hymenoptera Name Server} Type location Sierra Leone (Polyrhachis decemdentata nov. sp., André, 1889: 219, worker; Emery, 1892d: 567, queen; Forel, 1915c: 351, male), collector Mocquerys - see below
junior synonyms
fernandensis (Polyrhachis decemdentata André, v. fernandensis Forel n. stirps, Forel, 1901e: 377, worker) from Fernando Po I., collector Conradt - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0910947
gustavi (P. (Myrma) decemdentata Ern. André var. Gustavi n., Emery, 1921e: 22, queen; listed by Bolton as Equatorial Guinea) from Fernando Po I. - see below
flavipes (Polyrhachis decemdentata Andr. v. flavipes n.v., Stitz, 1910: 149, worker & queen) from Cameroun, collected at Victoria by Faber - no images on Antweb (December 2014)
tenuistriata (Polyrhachis (Myrma) decemdentata ssp. tenuistriata n. ssp., Menozzi, 1932: 114, worker) from Uganda, collector E Bayon - see below
worker & queen only known (see Bolton, 1995) .


André's (1889) description is at {original description}. Forel's (1913e) description of the queen is at {original description}. Forel's (1913e) description of the male is at {original description}. Stitz's (1910) description of flavipes is at {original description}. Emery's (1921e) description of gustavi is at {original description}. Menozzi's (1933a) description of tenuistriata is at {original description}. Bolton's modern description (1973b) is at {original description} Forel (1901e) separated fernandensis as TL 5 mm; differing from the type in having a longer dorsum to the propodeum, the pronotum with two anterior spines which are much longer than their basal width; and by the gaster being subopaque, simply reticulate with no striations. Stitz (1910) noted flavipes n.v. as somewhat larger than the type, with colour more yellow-brown, notably the appendages.


{Polyrhachis decemdentata}Nigeria specimen (Taylor, 1978: 17). WORKER - TL 4.7-6.7 mm, HL 1.18-1.59, HW 1.07-1.48, SL 1.15-1.55, PW 0.85-1.33
Unique in having six spines or teeth on the petiole. All dorsal surfaces of the body and appendages with numerous erect hairs, white or yellowish in colour. Pubescence sparse, grey or off-white. Alitrunk marginate throughout its length, interrupted only at the sutures, and all dorsal surfaces transversely convex. Promesonotal suture distinct, metanotal grove impressed. Anterior face of first gastral segment concave.


Wheeler (1922) also listed findings from Guinea (Los Islands by H. Brauns), Sierra Leone (Sherbro Island, by H. Brauns), Ivory Coast (at Assinie, by C. Alluaud), Cameroun (Conradt, Bibundi by Tessmann), and areas in the Congo Basin (worker illustrated). Forel (1911f) found specimens in the Congo Museum from Zaïre, Congo da Lemba, by Mayné.

Arboreal, nesting in rotten parts of standing trees (Bolton, 1973b: 302, not illustrated).

Bernard (1952, not listed by Bolton, 1973b) reported it in the Guinea, Mt Nimba, surveys; 8 queens, 4 alates and 5 workers; most coming from Mount Tô at 1600 m; one each from Nion, Yanlé and Kéoulenta.

In Nigeria, occasionally found foraging on cocoa at CRIN. Earlier from CRIN perhaps on 5-10% of cocoa in pkd collections from two cocoa blocks, W13/2 and W18/1 (Booker, 1968). Also found at Ile-Ife (J.T. Medler) (Bolton, 1973b) and at Ilugun near Ibadan (Eguagie, 1971).

Found in Ghana cocoa, at Kade, by Majer (1975, 1976b), using pkd, with 61-87 workers per sample. Room (1971) also reported it from cocoa, and herbs under cocoa, at the Mampong Cemetery Farm, in 23/168 of his wider cocoa canopy samples. In his studies of the fauna of cocoa mistletoe (Room, 1972a, 1975), it was 22nd most abundant insect at the cocoa/mistletoe junction (171 individuals). Found in moderate numbers by canopy pkd from both Crematogaster clariventris and Oecophylla longinoda dominated areas of a block of mature Amelonado cocoa at CRIG by Bigger (1981a), who also found a few workers on the ground. Bigger described it as preferring better areas of canopy. Belshaw & Bolton (1994b) collected two workers, as 'tourists' in leaf litter under secondary forest, at Bunso, and under primary forest at Old Tafo. Room (1971) found it to be positively associated with Oecophylla longinoda.

Other countries listed by Bolton (1973b) are Sierra Leone, at Njala (E. Hargreaves); Cameroun, at Meyo (C.A. Collingwood); and, without details, Ivory Coast, Guinea and Zaïre.

It was among the non-dominant species recorded in the Cameroun forest canopy studies at Campo by Dejean and colleagues. They noted it as nesting in the middle stratum only (hollowed branches) with 4 findings on 30 trees examined.


Polyrhachis decemdentataThe photomontage of the type worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=0913674.


Polyrhachis decemdentataThe photomontage of the tenuistriata type worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=0905859.


Oxford University Museum specimens

Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det.
Liberia
E Poirier
Liabala
SLAM 1
2.iv.2013
Nimba County
07°31’06" N
08°35’34" E
SLAM trap
Secondary forest
473 m asl

1
{album}
Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det.
Liberia
E Poirier
Liabala
SLAM 4
2.iv.2013
Nimba County
07°31’06" N
08°35’34" E
SLAM trap
Secondary forest
473 m asl

1
{album}
Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det.
Ivory Coast
Erena Dupont
28.i.2014
Taï National Park
5˚45'00" N
7˚07'00" W
YSBCI 2015-31-5-2014
6
{album}
Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det.
Ivory Coast
Erena Dupont
28.i.2014
Taï National Park
5˚45'00" N
7˚07'00" W

1
{album}
Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det.
Ivory Coast
Erena Dupont
iii.2014
Taï National Park
5˚45'00" N
7˚07'00" W
15
2
{album}
Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det.
Ivory Coast
Erena Dupont
v.2014
Taï National Park
5˚45'00" N
7˚07'00" W
02
4
{album}
Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det.
Gabon
Y Braet
Gabon 60
23.vi-25.vii.2006
Pongara
00°34' N
09°19' E
Pointe Wingombe; malaise trap; one week
1
{album}
Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det.
Congo
Y Braet

7.x.2007
Dzio-Dzio
3°29'33" S
15°18'33" E
Ngabe, Région de Pool
collected by sweep netting (fauchage)
 
2
{album}
Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det.
Rep. of Congo
D De Bakker & JP Michiels
ex Y Braet
18.ix.2007
Mayombe
05°37'16" S
13°05'54" E
266 m asl
Canopy fogging
worker & queen

2
{album}
Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det.
Queen
Central African Republic
P Annoyer
KT
23.x.2008
Dzanga-Sangha
03°01'49.5" N
16°08'31.7" E
567 m; Camp 2; 18h-6h;
Sur plate-forme à 40 m du sol dans un kungu, à 50 m du camp
1

Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det.
Queen
Central African Republic
P Annoyer
LB
25.x.2008
Dzanga-Sangha
03°05'20.6" N
16°10'43.0" E
364 m; Camp transit 3;
18h-5h bord fleuve sangha Au camp, à 5 m du bord du fleuve Sangha  
2
{album}
Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det.
Queen
Central African Republic
P Annoyer
NB

22.xi.2010
Dzanga-Sangha
2°28'49.5"N
16°12'55.9"E
392 m; nuit : 17h45 - 2h, UV,
Azobé, canopée, proche camp de base lac 1, vent fort 
2
{album}
Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det.
Queen
Central African Republic
P Annoyer
NQ
24.xi.2010
Dzanga-Sangha
2°28'49.5"N
16°12'55.9"E
392 m; nuit : 17h45 - 6h30, UV,
Azobé, canopée (35 m), camp de base lac 1 
1
{album}
Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det.
Queen
Central African Republic
P Annoyer
Pimul
xi.2010
Dzanga-Sangha
?

2
{album}
Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det.
Ethiopia
Serge Guiraud

20.i.2010
Jinka
05°47' N
38°05' E
1490 m; 18 h
hand collected
 
1
{album}

{Polyrhachis decemdentata}The photomontage is of a worker from Gabon; Pongara National Park, Pointe Wingombe; collector Yves Braet (Gabon 60). 


{Polyrhachis decemdentata}The photomontage is of a worker from Congo, Dzio-Dzio, Ngabe, Région de Pool;  collector Yves Braet.


{Polyrhachis decemdentata}The photomontage is of a worker from Ethiopia, Jinka; collector Serge Giraud


{Polyrhachis decemdentata queen}The photomontage is of a queen from the Central African Republic, Dzanga-Sangha Nature Reserve; collector Philippe Annoyer (CAR LB)


Polyrhachis gustavi queenThe photomontage of the gustavi type queen is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=0905620.

Contents
© 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018 - Brian Taylor CBiol FRSB FRES
11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K.

href="polyrhachis_decemdentata.htm"