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Bondroitia saharensis
| Bondroitia saharensis | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Solenopsidini |
| Genus: | Bondroitia |
| Species: | B. saharensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Bondroitia saharensis (Santschi, 1923)
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Nothing is known about the biology of Bondroitia saharensis.
Identification
Only known from the queen and male caste. Bolton (1987) - Bondroitia saharensis is similar to Bondroitia lujae. The female is much smaller than that of lujae; HW 1.94 in lujae, HW 1.18 in saharensis; maximum width of mesoscutum 2.72 in lujae, 1.56 in saharensis. The female of saharensis is yellow in colour, as opposed to black in lujae, and if the size discrepancy between lujae female and worker is expressed in saharensis then workers of the latter will be very small indeed. Eyes of the saharensis female are relatively larger than those of lujae, 0.44 x HW in the former and 0.24 x HW in the latter. Males show the differences in antennal segment count and eye position mentioned in the diagnosis of the genus, rendering them easy to differentiate.
Distribution
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Niger (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
One of two species of the genus, this species is known from queens and males with workers yet to be collected. Its congener is known from all three castes.
Images from AntWeb
 
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| Syntype of Bondroitia saharensis. Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0913544. Photographer Will Ericson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by NHMB, Basel, Switzerland. |
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- saharensis. Diplomorium saharensis Santschi, 1923e: 278 (q.m.) NIGER.
- Type-material: 3 syntype queens, 1 syntype male.
- Type-locality: Niger (“Sahara central”): Bilma, ix.-xi.1913 (Noël).
- Type-depository: MNHN.
- Combination in Bondroitia: Bolton, 1987: 277.
- Status as species: Ettershank, 1966: 100; Bolton, 1987: 277; Bolton, 1995b: 80; Vonshak, et al. 2009: 41; Borowiec, L. 2014: 21.
- Distribution: Israel, Niger.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Type Material
Bolton (1987) - Syntype females, male, NIGER: Bilma, ix-xi. 1913 (Noel) (Musee National d'Histoire Naturelle) [examined] .
References
- Bolton, B. 1987. A review of the Solenopsis genus-group and revision of Afrotropical Monomorium Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bull. Br. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Entomol. 54: 263-452 (page 277, combination in Bondroitia)
- Borowiec, L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
- Cantone S. 2018. Winged Ants, The queen. Dichotomous key to genera of winged female ants in the World. The Wings of Ants: morphological and systematic relationships (self-published).
- Santschi, F. 1923e. Descriptions de nouveaux Formicides éthiopiens et notes diverses. I. Rev. Zool. Afr. (Bruss.) 11: 259-295 (page 278, queen, male described)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
- Santschi F. 1923. Descriptions de nouveaux Formicides éthiopiens et notes diverses. I. Revue Zoologique Africaine (Brussels) 11: 259-295.
- Vonshak M., and A. Ionescu-Hirsch. 2009. A checklist of the ants of Israel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Israel Journal of Entomology 39: 33-55.