The Ants of Africa

The Ants of Africa
Genus Polyrhachis
Polyrhachis viscosa F. Smith

Polyrhachis viscosa F. Smith

Type location South Africa (Polyrhachis viscosus, F. Smith, 1858b: 71, illustrated, worker) - see below
junior synonyms
antinorii (Polyrhachis Antiniorii n. sp., Emery, 1877b: 365, illustrated, worker) from Ethiopia, Sciotel, collected by Beccari - see bottom
imatongica (Polyrhachis (Myrma) cubaënsis Mayr imatongica subsp. nov., Weber, 1943c: 388, illustrated, worker) from South Sudan, Mt Imatong, 24.vii.1939, N A Weber - no images on antweb (December 2014)
spretula (Polyrhachis (Myrma) viscosa Sm. v. spretula n. var. Santschi, 1923e: 294, worker & queen) from Zaïre, at Kasai, Dumbi, 6.x.1921 - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0912141
worker & queen known (see Bolton, 1995) .

{Polyrhachis viscosa petiole} F Smith's (1858b) description is at . Emery's (1877b) description of antinorii is at . Arnold (1924) gave an illustrated (petiole) translation; this is at . Santschi's (1923e) description of spretula is at . Weber's (1943c) description of imatongica is at . Bolton's modern description (1973b) is at .

{Polyrhachis viscosa} WORKER - TL 5.9-7.6 mm; eyes flat to weakly convex. No erect hairs on alitrunk or gaster; all surfaces with no more than a very sparse short, greyish pubescence (Bolton, 1973b: 330, illustrated, full-face view, alitrunk profile, antennal scape, anterior petiole).

A savannah species, nesting directly into sandy soil, usually in open localities; foragers occur mostly on the ground but also ascend low bushes, trees and grass stems (Bolton, 1973b).

Bolton (1973b) gave a fairly short but very wide-ranging list of occurrences from Ghana, at Nakong and Tumu (P.M. Room); Mole Game Reserve (J.C. Grieg); Kwabenya and Legon (D. Leston), Amfeda and Prampram (C.A. Collingwood).

From Nigeria, at Badeggi (J.T. Medler) and Madaki (M.G. Wood); then eastwards and southwards to South Africa.

Rigato (2016) reported: Material examined. BURKINA FASO: Tanguen (50 km NNE of Ouagadougou), viii.1996 (University of Milano) (1 w, MSNM); Tiogo (140 km W of Ouagadougou), iv.1999 (M. Ouedraogo) (4 w, MSNM). ETHIOPIA: Coromma, x.1892–93 (E. Ruspoli) (7 w, MSNG); Banno, 1.v.1939 (E. Zavattari, Mission Sagan–Omo) (1 w, MSNG); Banno, 7.v.1939 (E. Zavattari, Mission Sagan–Omo) (2 w, MSNG). ERITREA: Bogos, Sciotel, 1870 (O. Beccari) (2 w, MSNG); Bogos, Keren, 1870 (O. Beccari) (1 w, MSNG). KENYA: Laikipia Distr., Mpala ResearchCentre, 0.28°N 36.87°E, 13.ii.2004, 1600 m (S. Kamande) (5 w, HLMD).

Polyrhachis viscosa The photomontage of a syntype worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0903462.

Oxford University Museum specimens

Polyrhachis viscosa B Taylor det.	Senegal Ferlo B Ndiaye	x.2010 Katané 15.48° N 14.08° W	Katané X 2010 T4RM21 Sahelian savannah, pitfall traps	2
Polyrhachis viscosa B Taylor det.	Senegal Kolda B Ndiaye	12.vii.2009 Kolo 12°45'0" N 13°41'60" W	Kolo 12-VIII-09 St 5 dans du bois 48 m; Soudanian savannah, hand collection in a wood	3
Polyrhachis viscosa 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)	1
Polyrhachis viscosa B Taylor det.	Tanzania G McGavin tree 5-64	13.i.1997 Mkomazi 3°54.75' S 37°48.58' E	pkd collection from Acacia nilotica; 37M 0375103 UTM 957089	1
Polyrhachis viscosa B Taylor det.	Tanzania G McGavin tree 3-64	15.i.1996 Mkomazi 3°54.74' S 37°48.49' E	pkd collection from Combretum molle	3
Polyrhachis viscosa B Taylor det.	Tanzania G McGavin tree 3-65	15.i.1996 Mkomazi 3°54.74' S 37°48.49' E	pkd collection from Combretum molle	1
Polyrhachis viscosa B Taylor det.	Tanzania G McGavin tree 3-68	8.iv.1995 Mkomazi 3°54.75' S 37°48.58' E	pkd collection from Terminalia brownii	1
Polyrhachis viscosa B Taylor det. Queen	Tanzania G C McGavin OUMNH-2005-030	29.iii.1996 Mkomazi Ibaya Camp 03°58'S 037°48'E	UV light	3

{Polyrhachis viscosa} The photomontage is of a worker from Tanzania, Mkomazi Game Reserve; collector G McGavin (Tree 3-64).

The photomontage is of a worker from Congo, Dzio-Dzio, Ngabe; collector Yves Braet.

The photomontage is of a worker from Senegal, Katane; collector B Ndiaye.

{Polyrhachis viscosa} The photomontage is of a queen from Tanzania, Mkomazi Game Reserve; collector G McGavin.

{Polyrhachis viscosa imatongica} The photomontage of imatongica is collated from http://mcz-28168.oeb.harvard.edu/mcz/FMPro?-DB=Image.fm&-Lay=web&-Format=images.htm&Species_ID=26114&-Find.

{Polyrhachis viscosa antinorii} The photomontage of antinorii is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0905621.

href="polyrhachis_viscosa.htm"