The Ants of Africa
Genus Polyrhachis
Polyrhachis phidias Forel

Polyrhachis phidias Forel

return to key {link to the Hymenoptera Name Server} Type location 'Equatorial Africa' (Polyrhachis Phidias n. sp., Forel, 1910e: 450, worker)
worker only described (Bolton, 1973b: 316, illustrated, head and petiole only) .


Forel's (1910e) description is at {original description}. Bolton's modern description (1973b) is at {original description}.


{Polyrhachis phidias} Nigeria specimens; apparently larger than Forel's (Taylor, 1978: 23). WORKER. TL 4.9-5.1 mm, HL 1.18-1.26, HW 1.03-1.08, SL 1.18-1.26, PW 1.08-1.13
Dorso-lateral corners of head almost rectangular in front view, and the sides of head in front of the eyes is shallowly convex. Erect hairs on all dorsal surfaces, absent from the antennal scapes. Pubescence short and grey. Head and dorsum of alitrunk finely longitudinally striate-rugose. Alitrunk marginate laterally throughout its length, broken only at the sutures. Sutures are well developed and the metanotal groove is impressed. The petiole has long acute lateral spines and a pair of short, triangular dorsal teeth. Anterior face of first gastral segment strongly concave.
Collected by me at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Idi Ayunre, on low shrub vegetation around a cocoa plot.

Strangely, not listed by Rigato (2016: 37) who, however reported findings from Central African Republic, many from Dzangha-Sangha and Dzangha-Ndoki; and, Tanzania, Kigoma Region, Gombe Stream N.P., 4°42’S 29°37’E, thickset woodland, from trail, 798–1115 m, ix.2009–i.2010 (R. O’Malley) (1 w, HLMD: RO 09-1240). None of those are on Antweb (June 2018).


Polyrhachis phidiasThe photomontage of the worker I collected and drew is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0906825.

The type worker can be seen at http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0910951.

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

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