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Polyrhachis aenescens
| Polyrhachis aenescens | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Formicinae |
| Tribe: | Camponotini |
| Genus: | Polyrhachis |
| Subgenus: | Myrma |
| Species group: | revoili |
| Species: | P. aenescens |
| Binomial name | |
| Polyrhachis aenescens Stitz, 1910
| |
Identification
A member of the Polyrhachis revoili species-group. Bolton (1973) - This species is unique in the revoili-group as known at present as it has no erect hairs on the dorsal surfaces of the body, nor on the antennal scapes. In all other species of the group hairs are numerous, if not abundant. The species lies closest to Polyrhachis transiens within the group, sharing a similar body form and an almost similar loss of alitrunkal margination. The lobe of the clypeus is notably broader in aenescens, the sutures of the alitrunk are fainter, and the lateral petiolar spines less distinct.
Keys including this Species
- Key to Afrotropical Polyrhachis species
- Key to Afrotropical Polyrhachis species (Bolton 1973, OUTDATED)
Distribution
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Cameroun (type locality).
Distribution based on AntMaps
Distribution based on AntWeb specimens
Check data from AntWeb
Countries Occupied
| Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species. |
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Estimated Abundance
| Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species. |
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Biology
Castes
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Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- aenescens. Polyrhachis aenescens Stitz, 1910: 151 (w.) CAMEROUN. Combination in P. (Myrma): Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 993. See also: Bolton, 1973b: 332.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Bolton (1973) - TL 6.2, HL 1.60, HW 1.26, CI 79, SL 1.92, SI 152, PW 0.96, MTL 2.01. (Measurement of HL is approximate as head of holotype is partially crushed.)
Median portion of anterior clypeal margin projecting as a broad, truncated lobe. The median longitudinal carina of the clypeus is strongest anteriorly and projects slightly. For this reason the clypeal margin may appear broadly V-shaped in full-face view. Eyes convex; sides of head in front of eyes shallowly convex, behind the eyes the sides round into the convex occipital margin. Pronotum very weakly and obtusely margined for about half its length, the margination best seen in lateral view. Mesonotum similarly but even more faintly margined throughout its length; propodeum not marginate. Dorsal surfaces of alitrunk convex; in side view the pronotum virtually flat, the mesonotum and propodeum sloping strongly to the declivity. Pronotum armed with a pair of small, triangular spines; propodeum with a pair of minute but broad teeth. Promesonotal suture represented only by a very faint line breaking the sculpturation. Metanotal groove even more poorly developed, visible only in certain illuminations and views. Petiole with a pair of long dorsal spines and a pair of minute lateral teeth.
Erect hairs absent from dorsal surfaces of body and from antennal scapes. Pubescence fairly dense, with a pale yellowish reflection on the pronotum, silvery grey on the gaster.
Sculpturation everywhere of a fine, dense reticulation. Colour black, the legs brown or orange-brown, with the tibiae lighter in colour than the femora.
Type Material
Bolton (1973) - Holotype worker, CAMEROUN (Knobloch) (Berlin Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universität, Berlin) [examined].
References
- Bolton, B. 1973b. The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in the Ethiopian region (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology. 28:283-369. (page 332, see also)
- Rigato, F. 2016. The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 4088: 1–50.
- Stitz, H. 1910. Westafrikanische Ameisen. I. Mitt. Zool. Mus. Berl. 5: 125-151 (page 151, worker described)
- Wheeler, W. M. 1922j. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. VIII. A synonymic list of the ants of the Ethiopian region. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 45: 711-1004 (page 993, Combination in P. (Myrma))
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Menozzi C. 1942. Formiche dell'isola Fernando Poo e del territorio del Rio Muni (Guinea Spagnola). 24. Beitrag zu den wissenschaftlichen Ergebnissen der Forschungsreise H. Eidmann nach Spanisch-Guinea 1939 bis 1940. Zoologischer Anzeiger 140: 164-182.