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The Ants of
Africa SUBFAMILY MYRMICINAE - Genus Pristomyrmex |
Contents - Myrmicinae - MYRMICINAE Introduction |
In Tribe MYRMECININI.
Diagnostic Features - Head broader in front than behind, sides convex. Distal portion of mandible in anterior view suddenly broadened. Median portion of clypeus with a number of blunt teeth on the anterior margin; lateral portions reduced to a thin raised strip in front of the antennal insertions. Antennae 11-segmented, with a 3-segmented club. Eyes medium or small, about the midlength of the head. Dorsum of alitrunk without sutures. Pronotum usually with a pair of spines or blunt tubercles. Propodeum bispinose or bidentate. Sting simple, without an apical spatulate lamella.
Mayr's (1866b) genus description is at .
According to Bolton (1973a) the genus could be confused with some species of Xiphomyrmex (now synonymised with Tetramorium) but the sting has no spiculate apical portion. Members nest in rotten wood or fallen twigs in the leaf litter, foraging in the same area.
Revised by Bolton (1981b). Most species are leaf litter dwellers, nesting in rotten wood.
Key to workers known from Africa
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southern Africa - cribrarius |
-- | Petiole and postpetiole with sides smooth and shining; head behind the eyes without projecting short hairs | 2 |
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Eastern Zaire - trogor |
-- | With distinct frontal carinae; scapes shorter (SI 82-90) | 3 |
3 | With small eyes and pronotum armed with distinct sharp teeth or spines | 4 |
-- | With relatively large eyes (8-10 ommatidia long); pronotum with no more than low tubercles | 5 |
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western Africa, south to Angola - africanus |
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Tanzania (Usambara Mts) - new
species - usambarensis |
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western Africa, south to Angola - orbiceps |
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South Africa - fossulatus |
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MYRMICINAE Introduction |
© 2007, 2008, 2010, 2013 - Brian Taylor CBiol FSB FRES 11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K. |
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