Polyrhachis decemdentata André
  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)  .
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André's (1889) description is at  . Forel's (1913e) description of the queen
is at  . Forel's (1913e) description of the male
is at  . Stitz's (1910) description of flavipes
is at  . Emery's (1921e)
description of gustavi is at  . Menozzi's (1933a) description of tenuistriata
is at  . Bolton's modern
description (1973b) is at  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.
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 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.
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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.
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 The
photomontage of the type worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=0913674.
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 The
photomontage of the tenuistriata
type worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=0905859.
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Oxford University Museum
specimens
Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det. |
Liberia
E Poirier
Liabala
SLAM 1
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2.iv.2013
Nimba County
07°31’06" N
08°35’34" E
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SLAM trap
Secondary forest
473 m asl
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1
|
 |
Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det. |
Liberia
E Poirier
Liabala
SLAM 4
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2.iv.2013
Nimba County
07°31’06" N
08°35’34" E
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SLAM trap
Secondary forest
473 m asl
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1
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Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det. |
Ivory Coast
Erena Dupont
28.i.2014
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Taï National Park
5˚45'00" N
7˚07'00" W
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YSBCI 2015-31-5-2014
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6
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Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det. |
Ivory Coast
Erena Dupont
28.i.2014
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Taï National Park
5˚45'00" N
7˚07'00" W
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1
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Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det. |
Ivory Coast
Erena Dupont
iii.2014
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Taï National Park
5˚45'00" N
7˚07'00" W
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15
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2
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Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det. |
Ivory Coast
Erena Dupont
v.2014
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Taï National Park
5˚45'00" N
7˚07'00" W
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02
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4
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Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det.
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Gabon
Y Braet
Gabon 60
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23.vi-25.vii.2006
Pongara
00°34' N
09°19' E
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Pointe Wingombe;
malaise trap; one week
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1
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Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det.
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Congo
Y Braet
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7.x.2007
Dzio-Dzio
3°29'33" S
15°18'33" E
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Ngabe, Région de Pool
collected by sweep netting (fauchage)
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2
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Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det.
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Rep. of Congo
D De Bakker & JP Michiels
ex Y Braet
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18.ix.2007
Mayombe
05°37'16" S
13°05'54" E
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266 m asl
Canopy fogging
worker & queen
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2
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Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det.
Queen
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Central African
Republic
P Annoyer
KT
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23.x.2008
Dzanga-Sangha
03°01'49.5" N
16°08'31.7" E
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567 m; Camp 2;
18h-6h;
Sur plate-forme à 40 m du sol dans un kungu, à 50 m du camp
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1
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Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det.
Queen
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Central African
Republic
P Annoyer
LB
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25.x.2008
Dzanga-Sangha
03°05'20.6" N
16°10'43.0" E
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364 m; Camp transit
3;
18h-5h bord fleuve sangha Au camp, à 5 m du bord du fleuve Sangha
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2
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Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det.
Queen
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Central African
Republic
P Annoyer
NB
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22.xi.2010
Dzanga-Sangha
2°28'49.5"N
16°12'55.9"E
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392 m; nuit : 17h45
- 2h, UV,
Azobé, canopée, proche camp de base lac 1, vent fort
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2
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Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det.
Queen
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Central African
Republic
P Annoyer
NQ
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24.xi.2010
Dzanga-Sangha
2°28'49.5"N
16°12'55.9"E
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392 m; nuit : 17h45
- 6h30, UV,
Azobé, canopée (35 m), camp de base lac 1
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1
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Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det.
Queen
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Central African
Republic
P Annoyer
Pimul
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xi.2010
Dzanga-Sangha
?
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?
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2
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Polyrhachis decemdentata
B Taylor det.
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Ethiopia
Serge Guiraud
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20.i.2010
Jinka
05°47' N
38°05' E
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1490 m; 18 h
hand collected
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1
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 The photomontage is of
a worker from Gabon;
Pongara National Park, Pointe Wingombe; collector Yves Braet (Gabon
60).
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 The photomontage
is
of a worker from Congo, Dzio-Dzio, Ngabe, Région de
Pool; collector Yves Braet.
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 The photomontage
is
of a worker from Ethiopia,
Jinka; collector Serge Giraud
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 The photomontage
is of a queen from the Central
African Republic, Dzanga-Sangha Nature Reserve; collector Philippe
Annoyer (CAR LB)
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 The
photomontage of the gustavi type queen is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=0905620.
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