The Ants of Africa
Genus Polyrhachis
Polyrhachis spinicola Forel

Polyrhachis spinicola Forel

return to key {link to the Hymenoptera Name Server} Type location Mozambique (Polyrhachis spinicola n. spec., Forel, 1894b: 70, worker & queen), collected at Delagoa, by Junod - see below
junior synonym gallicola (Polyrhachis cubaensis Mayr r. gallicola n. stirps, Forel, 1894b: 71, worker and queen) from Mozambique, in a stalk gall by Dr Liengme - see below
worker and queen only known (Bolton, 1973b: 329, not illustrated; also Bolton, 1995) .


{Polyrhachis spinicola petiole}Forel's (1894b) description is at {original description}, with his description of gallicola at {original description}. Arnold (1924: 751) gave an illustrated translation; this is at {original description}. Bolton's modern description (1973b) is at {original description}.

WORKER - TL 6.1-7.0 mm, HL 1.62-1.78, HW 1.33-1.48, SL 1.70-1.78, PW 1.11-1.24
Distinguished from cubaensis as transverse ridge between propodeal spines has no medial tooth or tubercle; propodeal spines outcurved and directed posterolaterally. Colour black, appendages red-brown or yellow-brown.

Collected from Acacia thorns at Delagoa by Herr Junod; also from Muculla, East Africa, by Dr Junod.


{Polyrhachis spinicola}The photomontage of the type worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0910952


{Polyrhachis spinicola}The photomontage of the gallicola type worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0910946


Oxford University Museum specimens

Polyrhachis spinicola
B Taylor det.
Queen
Tanzania
G C McGavin
OUMNH-2005-030

26.iii.1996
Mkomazi
Ibaya Camp
03°58'S 037°48'E
At light
1
{album}

{Polyrhachis spinicola}

The photomontage is of a queen from Tanzania, Mkomazi NP; collector G McGavin.  When I first posted this image in 2007, I felt this was a somewhat speculative identification. Compared with what appears to be a queen from the type collection (below) this is larger and has quite distinctive longitudinal striations on the head which is not the case with the type queen or the workes above.  Both the queens, however, have all dark legs and a generally similar morphology. Thus, I am leaving this under spinicola.


{Polyrhachis spinicola}The photomontage of a queen, probably from the type collection is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0217803

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© 2007, 2012, 2014, 2018 - Brian Taylor CBiol FRSB FRES
11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K.

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