Dorylus helvolus

Dorylus helvolus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Dorylinae
Genus:	Dorylus
Species:	D. helvolus
Binomial name
	Dorylus helvolus; (Linnaeus, 1764) Specimen Label
Subspecies
	Dorylus helvolus pretoriae Arnold, 1946;
Synonyms
	Dorylus planifrons Mayr, 1865; Mutilla dorylus Lamarck, 1817; Typhlopone europaea Roger, 1859; Typhlopone punctata Smith, F., 1858;

Identification

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 25.45° to -34.48333°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa (type locality), United Republic of Tanzania.
Palaearctic Region: Italy.

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.

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.

Biology

Association with Other Organisms

Explore: Show all Associate data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.

This species is a associate (details unknown) for the phorid fly Psyllomyia macropygidia (a associate (details unknown)) (Quevillon, 2018).

Castes

Phylogeny

Relationships among selected Dorylus species based on Kronauer et al. (2007).

Dorylus

Dorylus laevigatus

	Dorylus conradti

	Dorylus orientalis

Dorylus fimbriatus laevipodex

Dorylus fulvus

Dorylus spininodis

Dorylus mayri

Dorylus nigricans rubellus

Dorylus nigricans molestus

	Dorylus nigricans terrificus

	Dorylus wilverthi

Dorylus nigricans burmeisteri

Dorylus nigricans sjostedti

	Dorylus nigricans arcens

	Dorylus nigricans

Dorylus emeryi

	Dorylus gerstaeckeri

	Dorylus gribodoi

	Dorylus kohli

	Dorylus emeryi opacus

Dorylus braunsi

	Dorylus affinis

	Dorylus helvolus

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

helvolus. Vespa helvola Linnaeus, 1764: 412 (m.) SOUTH AFRICA.
- Type-material: holotype male.
- Type-locality: South Africa: “Habitat ad Cap. b. spei.” (= Cape of Good Hope) (Tulbagh).
- Type-depository: ZMLS.
- Linnaeus, 1767: 967 (w.); Emery, 1888b: 344 (q.); Arnold, 1915: 116 (s.w.q.m.).
- Combination in Mutilla: Linnaeus, 1767: 967;
- combination in Dorylus: Fabricius, 1793: 365; Fabricius, 1804; 427; Latreille, 1810: 437.
- combination in D. (Dorylus): Emery, 1895j: 714.
- Status as species: Linnaeus, 1767: 967; Fabricius, 1787: 313; Gmelin, 1790: 2807; Fabricius, 1793: 365; Fabricius, 1804: 427; Gravenhorst, 1807: 287; Jurine, 1807: 281 (in text); Latreille, 1809: 124; Latreille, 1810: 437; Leach, 1815: 147; Latreille, 1817b: 555; Lepeletier de Saint-Fargeau, 1835: 228; Shuckard, 1840c: 315; Westwood, 1842: 79; Smith, F. 1859b: 1; Dumeril, 1860: 901; Mayr, 1863: 408; Roger, 1863b: 41; Emery, 1888b: 349; Dalla Torre, 1893: 11; Emery, 1895a: 177; Emery, 1895h: 17; Emery, 1895j: 714; Emery, 1901c: 196 (in key); Wasmann, 1904b: 676; Mayr, 1907b: 7; Forel, 1907e: 14; Emery, 1910b: 10; Forel, 1910f: 4; Forel, 1913b: 311; Santschi, 1914b: 61; Santschi, 1914d: 332; Santschi, 1914e: 14; Arnold, 1915: 116 (redescription); Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 732; Prins, 1963: 97; Bolton, 1995b: 179; Hita Garcia, et al. 2013: 204; Borowiec, L. 2014: 71 (see note in bibliography).
- Senior synonym of dorylus: Dalla Torre, 1893: 11; Emery, 1895j: 714; Emery, 1910b: 10; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 733; Bolton, 1995b: 179.
- Senior synonym of europaea: Emery, 1888b: 350; Dalla Torre, 1893: 11; Emery, 1895j: 714; Emery, 1910b: 10; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 733; Bolton, 1995b: 179.
- Senior synonym of planifrons: Emery, 1888b: 350; Dalla Torre, 1893: 11; Emery, 1895j: 714; Emery, 1910b: 10; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 733; Bolton, 1995b: 179.
- Senior synonym of punctata: Emery, 1888b: 350; Dalla Torre, 1893: 11; Emery, 1895h: 17; Emery, 1895j: 714; Emery, 1910b: 10; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 733; Bolton, 1995b: 179.
- Distribution: Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Italy, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Zimbabwe.
- Current subspecies: nominal plus pretoriae.
dorylus. Mutilla dorylus Lamarck, 1817: 101 (m.) (no state data).
- Type-material: same as Vespa helvola Linnaeus, 1764: 412.
- [Note: Mutilla dorylus Lamarck is based on the holotype of Vespa helvola Linnaeus, 1764: 412, sensu Fabricius, 1793: 365.]
- Type-locality: “Africa”.
- Type-depository: ZMLS.
- Junior synonym of helvolus: Dalla Torre, 1893: 11; Emery, 1895j: 714; Emery, 1910b: 10; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 733; Bolton, 1995b: 178.
europaea. Typhlopone europaea Roger, 1859: 248, pl. 7, fig. 3 (w.) ITALY.
- Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
- Type-locality: Italy: Turin (Bonelli).
- Type-depository: MNHU.
- Status as species: Roger, 1861a: 45; Mayr, 1861: 53 (in key); Roger, 1863b: 20; Mayr, 1863: 457; Dours, 1873: 167; André, 1874: 187 (in key).
- Junior synonym of punctata: Emery & Forel, 1879: 465.
- Junior synonym of helvolus: Emery, 1888b: 350; Dalla Torre, 1893: 11; Emery, 1895j: 714; Emery, 1910b: 10; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 733; Bolton, 1995b: 178.
planifrons. Dorylus planifrons Mayr, 1865: 74, pl. 3, fig. 21 (m.) SOUTH AFRICA.
- Type-material: holotype(?) male.
- [Note: no indication of number of specimens is given.]
- Type-locality: South Africa: Cape Prov., Cape of Good Hope.
- Type-depository: NHMW.
- Junior synonym of helvolus: Emery, 1888b: 350; Dalla Torre, 1893: 11; Emery, 1895j: 714; Emery, 1910b: 10; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 733; Bolton, 1995b: 180.
punctata. Typhlopone punctata Smith, F. 1858b: 112 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA.
- Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
- Type-locality: South Africa: Cape of Good Hope.
- Type-depository: BMNH.
- Combination in Dorylus: André, 1882c: 251.
- Status as species: Roger, 1861a: 45; Mayr, 1862: 737; Roger, 1863b: 20; Mayr, 1863: 457; Mayr, 1865: 74; Emery & Forel, 1879: 464; André, 1882c: 251 (in key).
- Junior synonym of helvolus: Emery, 1888b: 350; Dalla Torre, 1893: 11; Emery, 1895h: 17; Emery, 1895j: 714; Emery, 1910b: 10; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 733; Bolton, 1995b: 180.

Description

References

Arnold, G. 1915. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part I. Ponerinae, Dorylinae. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 14: 1-159 (page 116, see also)
Borowiec, L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
Boudinot, B. E., Moosdorf, O. T. D., Beutel, R. G., Richter, A. 2021. Anatomy and evolution of the head of Dorylus helvolus (Formicidae: Dorylinae): Patterns of sex‐ and caste‐limited traits in the sausagefly and the driver ant. Journal of Morphology 282(11), 1616–1658 (doi:10.1002/jmor.21410).
Emery, C. 1888b [1887]. Le tre forme sessuali del Dorylus helvolus L. e degli altri Dorilidi. Bull. Soc. Entomol. Ital. 19: 344-351 (page 344, queen described)
Emery, C. 1888b [1887]. Le tre forme sessuali del Dorylus helvolus L. e degli altri Dorilidi. Bull. Soc. Entomol. Ital. 19: 344-351 (page 350, Senior synonym of dorylus, europaea, planifrons and punctata)
Emery, C. 1895l. Die Gattung Dorylus Fab. und die systematische Eintheilung der Formiciden. Zool. Jahrb. Abt. Syst. Geogr. Biol. Tiere 8: 685-778 (page 714, Senior synonym of dorylus, europaea, planifrons and punctata)
Fabricius, J. C. 1793. Entomologia systematica emendata et aucta. Secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, adjectis synonimis, locis observationibus, descriptionibus. Tome 2. Hafniae [= Copenhagen]: C. G. Proft, 519 pp. (page 365, Combination in Dorylus)
Kronauer, D. J. C.; Schöning, C.; Vilhelmsen, L. B.; Boomsma, J. J. 2007. A molecular phylogeny of Dorylus army ants provides evidence for multiple evolutionary transitions in foraging niche. BMC Evolutionary Biology 7: Article 56 (doi:10.1186/1471-2148-7-56).
Linnaeus, C. 1764. Museum S:ae R:ae M:tis Ludovicae Ulricae Reginae Svecorum, Gothorum, Vandalorumque, &c. In quo animalia rariora, exotica, imprimis. Insecta & Conchilia describuntur & determinantur. Prodromi instar. Holmiae [= Stockholm]: Salvius, 8 + (page 412, male described)
Linnaeus, C. 1767. Systema naturae, per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum caracteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Pars 2. Editio duodecima, reformata. Holmiae [= Stockholm]: L. Salvii, pp. 533-1327. (page 968, worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Addison P., and M. J. Samways. 2000. A survey of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) that forage in vineyards in the Western Cape Province, South Africa
Borowiec M. L. 2016. Generic revision of the ant subfamily Dorylinae (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). ZooKeys 608: 1–280.
Botes, A., M.A. McGeoch, H.G. Robertson, A. van Niekerk, H.P. Davids and S.L. Chown. 2006. Ants, altitude and change in the northern Cape Floristic Region. Journal of Biogeography 33:71-90
Emery C. 1895. Die Gattung Dorylus Fab. und die systematische Eintheilung der Formiciden. Zoologische Jahrbücher. Abteilung für Systematik, Geographie und Biologie der Tiere 8: 685-778.
Emery C. 1895. Voyage de M. E. Simon dans l'Afrique australe (janvier-avril 1893). 3e mémoire. Formicides. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France 64: 15-56.
Forel A. 1907. Formiciden aus dem Naturhistorischen Museum in Hamburg. II. Teil. Neueingänge seit 1900. Mitt. Naturhist. Mus. Hambg. 24: 1-20.
Forel A. 1910. Zoologische und anthropologische Ergebnisse einer Forschungsreise im westlichen und zentralen Südafrika ausgeführt in den Jahren 1903-1905 von Dr. Leonhard Schultze. Vierter Band. Systematik und Tiergeographie. D) Formicidae. Denkschriften der Medizinisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft zu Jena 16: 1-30.
French K., and R. E. Major. 2001. Effect of an exotic Acacia (Fabaceae) on ant assemblages in South African fynbos. Austral Ecology 26: 303310.
Hita Garcia F., E. Wiesel, G. Fischer. 2013. The ants of Kenya (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)faunal overview, first species checklist, bibliography, accounts for all genera, and discussion on taxonomy and zoogeography. Journal of East African Natural History 101: 127-222.
IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
Prins A. J. 1963. A list of the ants collected in the Kruger National Park with notes on their distribution. Koedoe 6: 91-108.
Prins A. J. 1964. Revised list of the ants collected in the Kruger National Park. Koedoe 7: 77-93.
Prins A. J., and J. J. Cillie. 1968. The ants collected in the Hluhluwe and Umfolozi game reserves. The Lammergeyer 8: 40-47.
Ratsirarson H., H. G. Robertson, M. D. Picker, and S. van Noort. 2002. Indigenous forests versus exotic eucalypt and pine plantations: a comparison of leaf-litter invertebrate communities. African Entomology 10(1): 9399
Samways M. J. 1990. Species temporal variability: epigaeic ant assemblages and management for abundance and scarcity. Oecologia 84: 482-490.
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