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Polyrhachis spinicola
| Polyrhachis spinicola | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Formicinae |
| Tribe: | Camponotini |
| Genus: | Polyrhachis |
| Subgenus: | Myrma |
| Species group: | viscosa |
| Species: | P. spinicola |
| Binomial name | |
| Polyrhachis spinicola Forel, 1894
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| Synonyms | |
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The species has been recorded by Arnold (1924:752) as being found in acacia thorns, and is also known from collections of ants found in citrus trees. It is not clear whether the ants nest in the acacias. Alate females have been recorded as follows, South Africa: January, February. (Bolton 1973)
Identification
A member of the Polyrhachis viscosa species-group.
Keys including this Species
- Key to Afrotropical Polyrhachis species
- Key to Afrotropical Polyrhachis species (Bolton 1973, OUTDATED)
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -3.3° to -33.98333°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Kenya, Mozambique (type locality), South Africa.
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
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- gallicola. Polyrhachis cubaensis r. gallicola Forel, 1894b: 71 (w.q.) MOZAMBIQUE. Combination in P. (Myrma): Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 994. Junior synonym of spinicola: Bolton, 1973b: 329.
- spinicola. Polyrhachis spinicola Forel, 1894b: 70 (w.q.) MOZAMBIQUE. Combination in P. (Myrma): Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 1004. Senior synonym of gallicola: Bolton, 1973b: 329. See also: Arnold, 1924: 751.
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 6.1-7.0, HL 1.62-1.78, HW 1.33-1.48, CI 82-86, SL 1.70-1.78, SI 120-127, PW 1.11-1.24, MTL 1.72-1.75. (15 measured.)
Anterior clypeal margin arcuate and entire. Eyes hemispherical, weakly to strongly protuberant. Sides of head in front of eyes convex and convergent anteriorly. Alitrunk marginate throughout its length, with a distinct transverse carina or ridge separating the dorsum of the propodeum from the declivity. Pronotum bispinose; propodeum with a pair of spines or teeth which are curved outwards in dorsal view. Declivity of propodeum strongly concave. Promesonotal suture weakly arched, poorly developed; metanotal groove very weakly developed, represented only by a line which breaks the sculpturation. Petiole armed with four spines of variable length, usually with the dorsal pair slightly longer than the lateral, but sometimes of about the same length. Spines curved over and around the base of the first gastral segment which is concave in the middle of its anterior face.
Erect hairs absent from all dorsal surfaces of the body except for the anterior portion of the clypeus and the apex of the gaster. Pubescence weakly developed, most distinct on the legs and antennae.
Clypeus finely reticulate; dorsum of head finely reticulate-rugose, the interspaces reticulate-punctate.
Sculpturation of dorsum of alitrunk similar to that of the head but varying in intensity. In a series from the same nest the pronotal sculpturation varies from finely and densely punctate with a weak overlying longitudinal rugulation to distinctly reticulate-rugose with punctate interspaces. The rugulation is usually noticeably more coarse on the mesonotal and propodeal dorsa than on the pronotal dorsum. Declivity of propodeum superficially reticulate and smooth. Gaster finely and densely reticulate-punctate. Colour black, with femora, tibiae and apices of tarsal segments red-brown or yellow-brown. Antennae usually brown-black at the bases of the funiculi but tending to become deep red-brown apically.
Queen
Bolton (1973) - Answering to the above description except in the development of the alitrunk and in the following respects; dorsal pair of petiolar spines often strongly recurved posteriorly at their apices and somewhat hook-like. All forms occur between the usual worker pattern and a distinct small hook. Sculpturation of the mesoscutal dorsum may be reduced to fine, dense, longitudinal striae with interstitial reticulate-puncturation and with scattered, larger pits, these last usually on the posterior half of the sclerite.
Type Material
Bolton (1973) - Syntype workers, queen. MOZAMBIQUE : Delagoa Bay (Junod) (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève).
References
- Arnold, G. 1924. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part VI. Camponotinae. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 14: 675-766 (page 751, see also)
- 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 329, Senior synonym of gallicola)
- Forel, A. 1894b. Abessinische und andere afrikanische Ameisen, gesammelt von Herrn Ingenieur Alfred Ilg, von Herrn Dr. Liengme, von Herrn Pfarrer Missionar P. Berthoud, Herrn Dr. Arth. Müller etc. Mitt. Schweiz. Entomol. Ges. 9: 64-100. (page 70, worker, queen 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 1004, Combination in P. (Myrma))
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Arnold G. 1924. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part VI. Camponotinae. Annals of the South African Museum 14: 675-766.
- Bolton B. 1973. The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in the Ethiopian region (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 28: 283-369.
- Forel A. 1907. Ameisen von Madagaskar, den Comoren und Ostafrika. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse. Reise in Ostafrika 2: 75-92.
- IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
- Prins A. J. 1964. Revised list of the ants collected in the Kruger National Park. Koedoe 7: 77-93.
- Robson Simon Database Polyrhachis -05 Sept 2014
- Wheeler W. M. 1922. 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. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45: 711-1004