Polyrhachis schistacea

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Polyrhachis schistacea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Tribe: Camponotini
Genus: Polyrhachis
Subgenus: Myrma
Species group: militaris
Species: P. schistacea
Binomial name
Polyrhachis schistacea
(Gerstäcker, 1859)

MCZ ENT Polyrhachis schistacea hal.jpg

MCZ ENT Polyrhachis schistacea had.jpg

Specimen Label

Synonyms

P. schistacea is a common savannah and scrub forest species which ranges from Sudan to South Africa and from the east to the west coasts of the continent south of the Sahara, but it is absent from rain forest, where it is apparently replaced by Polyrhachis militaris. Nests are constructed in the earth either in open ground where a crater is formed around the entrance, or under stones. More rarely the species nests in or under decayed wood. Foraging is carried out on the surface of the ground, on grass stems and on low bushes. Arnold (1924:745) states that the entrance to the nest, when made directly into the ground is “surrounded by an irregular, cup-like wall about one to one and a half inches high, made of woven pieces of grass blades”. He also notes that the ant tends aphids and coccids, one of the few food records for the genus in the Ethiopian region. (Bolton 1973)

Identification

A member of the Polyrhachis militaris species-group. Bolton (1973) - Most of the many synonyms of this species represent variability in a range of characters such as hair colour, density of pilosity, intensity of sculpturation or differences in sculptural details, convexity of eyes, or on size and relative proportions of constituent parts of the alitrunk. The present study has shown these to be gradient factors, at times even with variation in the same nest series. Eye convexity also varies from nearly flat through to strongly convex.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 10.61666667° to -33.55°.

   
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Angola, Cameroun, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique (type locality), Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zimbabwe.

Distribution based on AntMaps

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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

Alate females have been recorded as follows, Uganda : August, November. Kenya: February. Malawi: March. Rhodesia: January. (Bolton 1973)

Castes

Nomenclature

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

  • carinatus. Polyrhachis carinatus Smith, F. 1858b: 71, pl. 4, figs. 48, 49 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA. [Junior secondary homonym of carinata Fabricius, above.] Senior synonym of rugulosus: Emery, 1896d: 379; hence the latter is first available replacement name for this taxon: Bolton, 1995b: 345.
  • schistacea. Hoplomyrmus schistaceus Gerstäcker, 1859: 262 (w.) MOZAMBIQUE. [Also described as new by Gerstäcker, 1862: 508.] Forel, 1907a: 38 (q.). Combination in Polyrhachis: Mayr, 1863: 446; in P. (Myrma): Santschi, 1914b: 140. Subspecies of militaris: André, 1887: 288. Revived status as species: Dalla Torre, 1893: 268; Forel, 1907a: 38; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 1000; Arnold, 1924: 742; Bolton, 1973b: 318. Senior synonym of atrociliata, divina, divinoides, fracta, gagatoides, rugulosus (and its junior synonyms cafrorum, carinatus) and material of the unavailable names beguelensis, mediopilosa, subplana referred here: Bolton, 1973b: 318.
  • rugulosus. Polyrhachis rugulosus Mayr, 1862: 685, pl. 19, fig. 7 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA. Arnold, 1924: 744 (q.). Junior synonym of, and hence first available replacement name for, carinatus Smith, F. 1858b: 71 [Junior secondary homonym of Formica carinata Fabricius, 1804: 413.]: Emery, 1896d: 379; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 1002. Combination in P. (Myrma): Santschi, 1914b: 141. Subspecies of militaris: Mayr, 1893: 197; of schistacea: Stitz, 1910: 151; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 1002; Arnold, 1924: 744. Senior synonym of cafrorum: Mayr, 1893: 197; Forel, 1894b: 72. Junior synonym of schistacea: Bolton, 1973b: 318.
  • cafrorum. Polyrhachis militaris r. cafrorum Forel, 1879a: 120 (w.q.m.) SOUTH AFRICA. Raised to species: Dalla Torre, 1893: 260. Junior synonym of rugulosus: Mayr, 1893: 197; Forel, 1894b: 72.
  • atrociliata. Polyrhachis (Myrma) schistacea st. atrociliata Santschi, 1913c: 314 (w.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. [Also described as new by Santschi, 1914b: 141.] Raised to species: Santschi, 1933b: 108. Junior synonym of schistacea: Bolton, 1973b: 318.
  • divina. Polyrhachis schistacea var. divina Forel, 1913b: 348 (in text) (w.) TANZANIA. Combination in P. (Myrma): Santschi, 1914b: 141. Junior synonym of schistacea: Bolton, 1973b: 318.
  • gagatoides. Polyrhachis (Myrma) schistacea var. gagatoides Santschi, 1913c: 314 (w.) CONGO. [Also described as new by Santschi, 1914b: 142.] Junior synonym of schistacea: Bolton, 1973b: 318.
  • fracta. Polyrhachis (Myrma) schistacea st. fracta Santschi, 1914b: 141 (w.) KENYA. Junior synonym of schistacea: Bolton, 1973b: 318.
  • divinoides. Polyrhachis schistacea var. divinoides Arnold, 1924: 744 (w.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. [First available use of Polyrhachis schistacea r. rugulosa var. divinoides Forel, 1913b: 348; unavailable name.] Junior synonym of schistacea: Bolton, 1973b: 318.

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 9.3-13.7, HL 2.15-2.78, HW 1.63-2.26, CI 76-80, SL 2.78-3.40, SI 141-170, PW 1.29-1.89, MTL 3.07-3.89. (30 measured.)

Anterior clypeal margin entire. In profile the clypeus is usually convex above and concave below, the anterior margin projecting as a weak shelf over the basal borders of the mandibles. Eyes virtually flat to strongly convex; the sides of the head in front of the eyes gently convex, occipital margin distinctly so. Alitrunk marginate throughout its length, the marginations sharp but not flange-like or lamellate, nor distinctly projecting upwards or outwards from the dorsum; interrupted at the sutures. Pronotal spines long and acute, usually with a narrow base. Propodeal teeth of variable length, usually small and upcurved. Pronotal suture distinct; metanotal groove impressed. Petiole with a pair of long dorsal spines and a pair of laterally placed teeth.

Erect hairs numerous, usually present on all surfaces, always present on the side of the head between the eye and the ventrolateral border and on the mesonotal and propodeal dorsa. Colour of hairs varies from white to black. Pubescence usually greyish and dense but never so dense as to mask the underlying sculpturation. In some the pubescence is very much reduced. Sculpture variable, may be of a fine reticulo-rugulation, a disoriented mass of small rugae, or a fine dense longitudinal rugulation on the dorsal surfaces of the head and alitrunk. Gastral sculpturation varying from finely reticulate to finely reticulate-punctate. If the gaster is finely reticulate the rims of the reticulae are raised and not merely superficial as in gagates. Colour uniform black, or with the legs black-brown. Usually dull, occasionally with the gaster polished.

Queen

Bolton (1973) - Answers to the above description with the usual differences associated with this caste.

Type Material

Bolton (1973) - Holotype worker, MOZAMBIQUE (probably in Berlin Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universität).

References

  • André, E. 1887. Description de quelques fourmis nouvelles ou imparfaitement connues. Rev. Entomol. (Caen) 6: 280-298 (page 288, Subspecies of militaris)
  • Arnold, G. 1924. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part VI. Camponotinae. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 14: 675-766 (page 742, Revived status as species)
  • 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 318, Revived status as species, Senior synonym of atrociliata, divina, divinoides, fracta, gagatoides and rugulosus (and its junior synonyms cafrorum and carinatus), and material of the unavailable names beguelensis, mediopilosa and subplana referred here: )
  • Dalla Torre, K. W. von. 1893. Catalogus Hymenopterorum hucusque descriptorum systematicus et synonymicus. Vol. 7. Formicidae (Heterogyna). Leipzig: W. Engelmann, 289 pp. (page 268, Revived status as species)
  • Forel, A. 1907d. Formicides du Musée National Hongrois. Ann. Hist.-Nat. Mus. Natl. Hung. 5: 1-42 (page 38, queen described, Revived status as species)
  • Gerstäcker, A. 1859. [Untitled. Introduced by: "Hr. Peters berichtete über sein Reisewerk, von dem die Insecten bis zum 64., die Botanik bis zum 34. Bogen gedruckt sind und theilte den Schluss der Diagnosen der von Hrn. Dr. Gerstäcker bearbeiteten Hymeno (page 262, worker described)
  • Gerstäcker, A. 1862. Hymenoptera Hautflügler. Pp. 439-526 in: Peters, W. C. H. Naturwissenschaftliche Reise nach Mossambique auf Befehl seiner Majestät des Königs Friedrich Wilhelm IV in den Jahren 1842 bis 1848 ausgeführt. Berlin: G. Reimer, 21 + 566 (page 508, also described as new)
  • Mayr, G. 1863a. Formicidarum index synonymicus. Verh. K-K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 13: 385-460 (page 446, Combination in Polyrhachis)
  • Santschi, F. 1914b. Voyage de Ch. Alluaud et R. Jeannel en Afrique Orientale, 1911-1912. Résultats scientifiques. Insectes Hyménoptères. II. Formicidae. Paris: Libr. A. Schulz, pp. 41-148. (page 140, Combination in P. (Myrma))
  • 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 1000, Revived status as species)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • André E. 1887. Description de quelques fourmis nouvelles ou imparfaitement connues. Rev. Entomol. (Caen) 6: 280-298.
  • Arnold G. 1924. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part VI. Camponotinae. Annals of the South African Museum 14: 675-766.
  • Bernard F. 1953. La réserve naturelle intégrale du Mt Nimba. XI. Hyménoptères Formicidae. Mémoires de l'Institut Français d'Afrique Noire 19: 165-270.
  • 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.
  • Braet Y., and B. Taylor. 2008. Mission entomologique au Parc National de Pongara (Gabon). Bilan des Formicidae (Hymenoptera) recoltes. Bulletin S. R. B. E./K.B.V.E. 144: 157-169.
  • Eidmann H. 1944. Die Ameisenfauna von Fernando Poo. 27. Beitrag zu den Ergebnissen der Westafrika-Expedition. Zool. Jahrb. Abt. Syst. Ökol. Geogr. Tiere 76: 413-490.
  • 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.
  • Emery C. 1912. Formiche raccolte durante i viaggi di S. A. R. la Duchessa Elena d'Aosta nella regione dei grandi laghi dell'Africa equatoriale. Annu. Mus. Zool. R. Univ. Napoli (n.s.)3(2 26: 1-2.
  • Forel A. 1886. Études myrmécologiques en 1886. Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique. 30: 131-215.
  • Forel A. 1907. Ameisen von Madagaskar, den Comoren und Ostafrika. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse. Reise in Ostafrika 2: 75-92.
  • Forel A. 1911. Fourmis nouvelles ou intéressantes. Bull. Soc. Vaudoise Sci. Nat. 47: 331-400.
  • Forel A. 1913. Formicides du Congo Belge récoltés par MM. Bequaert, Luja, etc. Revue Zoologique Africaine (Brussels). 2: 306-351.
  • Forel A. 1913. Ameisen aus Rhodesia, Kapland usw. (Hym.) gesammelt von Herrn G. Arnold, Dr. H. Brauns und Anderen. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 1913(Suppl.): 203-225.
  • Forel, A. "Ameisen aus Rhodesia, Kapland usw. (Hym.) gesammelt von Herrn G. Arnold, Dr. H. Brauns und Anderen." Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 1913(Suppl.) (1913): 203-225.
  • Garcia F.H., Wiesel E. and Fischer G. 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(2): 127-222
  • IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
  • Kolo Y. 2006. Evaluation rapide des fourmis de la région de Boké, Guinée. In Wright, H.E. and J. McCullough et M.S. Diallo. (eds). 2006. A Rapid Biological Assessment of the Boké Préfecture, Northwestern Guinea. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 41. Conservation International, Washington, DC.
  • Kone M., S. Konate, K. Yeo, P. K. Kouassi, K. E. Linsemair. 2010. Diversity and abundance of terrrestrial ants along a gradient of land use intensification in a transitional forest-savannah zone of Cote d'Ivoire. Journal of Applied Biosciences 29: 1809-1827.
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  • Lévieux J. 1977. La nutrition des fourmis tropicales: V- Elements de synthèse. Les modes d'exploitation de la biocenose. Insectes Sociaux 24(3): 235-260.
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  • Menozzi C. 1930. Formiche della Somalia italiana meridionale. Memorie della Società Entomologica Italiana. 9: 76-130.
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  • Menozzi C. 1933. Raccolte mirmecologiche dell'Africa orientale conservate nel Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Giacomo Doria di Genova. II. Formiche dell'Uganda e delle isole Sesse raccolte dal Dr. E. Bayon. [concl.]. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Giacomo Doria. 56: 113-114.
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  • Robson Simon Database Polyrhachis -05 Sept 2014
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  • 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
  • Yeo K., S. Konate, S. Tiho, and S. K. Camara. 2011. Impacts of land use types on ant communities in a tropical forest margin (Oumé - Cote d'Ivoire). African Journal of Agricultural Research 6(2): 260-274.
  • Yeo K., T. Delsinne, S. Komate, L. L. Alonso, D. Aidara, and C. Peeters. 2016. Diversity and distribution of ant assemblages above and below ground in a West African forest–savannah mosaic (Lamto, Cote d’Ivoire). Insectes Sociaux DOI 10.1007/s00040-016-0527-6