Anochetus traegaordhi

In Cameroon and Congo this species was found to specialize on feeding on Nasutitermes termites, nesting in logs occupied by this prey (Schatz et al. 1999). In Saudi Arabia, Sharaf et al. (2017) found this species nesting in soil that was moist and rich in organic matter. A nest series was also found under a large Ficus tree (Moraceae) in Thi Ayn Archeological Village (Al Bahah Province) collected by digging. Some workers were found foraging in leaf litter at Wadi Aljora.

Identification
Sharaf et al. (2017) - Anochetus traegaordhi is a member of the Anochetus ghilianii-group as mentioned by Brown (1978). The A. ghilianii-group can be recognized by the medium or large body and eye sizes, the short cephalic longitudinal striations that fail to reach nuchal carina, the smooth and shining cephalic surface, and the thick, upright, compressed petiolar node as seen from profile.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Cameroun, Congo, Eritrea, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mozambique, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sudan, Yemen, Zimbabwe.

Biology
Collingwood (1985) - Scattered accounts include a Zimbabwe collection from a sandy soil nest (Arnold 1946), a nest discovered under a tree in Sudan (Viehmeyer 1923) and two foragers found foraging on the ground in bushy scrub.

Sharaf et al. (2017) - This species was collected nesting in soil that was moist and rich in organic matter. A nest series was found also under a large Ficus tree (Moraceae) in Thi Ayn Archeological Village (Al Bahah Province) collected by digging. Some workers were found foraging in leaf litter at Wadi Aljora.

Nomenclature

 *  traegaordhi. Anochetus traegaordhi Mayr, 1904b: 2 (w.) SUDAN. Senior synonym of silvaticus: Brown, 1964d: 215; of angusticornis, gracilicornis (and its junior synonym sudanicus): Brown, 1978c: 559 (see also p. 598).
 * gracilicornis. Anochetus gracilicornis Viehmeyer, 1923: 87, fig. 1 (w.) SUDAN. Senior synonym of sudanicus: Brown, 1964d: 215. Junior synonym of traegaordhi: Brown, 1978c: 559.
 * sudanicus. Anochetus sudanicus Weber, 1942a: 47, fig. 7 (w.) SUDAN. Junior synonym of gracilicornis: Brown, 1964d: 215.
 * angusticornis. Anochetus angusticornis Arnold, 1946: 56 (w.q.) ZIMBABWE. Junior synonym of traegaordhi: Brown, 1978c: 559.
 * silvaticus. Anochetus silvaticus Bernard, 1953b: 212, fig. 5 (w.q.) GUINEA. Junior synonym of traegaordhi: Brown, 1964d: 215.

Worker
Sharaf et al. (2017) - EL 0.25–0.30, HL 1.50–1.75, HW 1.25–1.50, MDL 0.90–1.05, ML 2.00–2.25, PNH 0.65–0.95, PNL 0.30–0.40, PNW 0.25–0.40, PW 0.60–0.80, SL 1.45–1.60, TL 5.35–7.50; Indices: CI 77–93, EI 17–22, MDI 57–63, PNI 157–317, SI 100–116 (n=9). The specimens used for measurements were recent collections from the KSA.

Head: Posterior margin of head strongly concave; eyes of moderate size (EI 17–22); scapes short, fail to reach posterior margin of head. Mesosoma: Promesonotum feebly convex in profile; metanotal groove impressed; propodeal dorsum about 2.5 3 longer than declivity; propodeal outline obtusely angulate. Petiole: In profile, anterior face broadly concave, posterior face feebly convex; petiolar node narrowly rounded. Sculpture: Cephalic surface smooth and shining except for fine striations between frontal carinae, running posteriorly and outwards to level of posterior margin of eyes; mesosoma faintly and irregularly rugulose; mesopleuron smooth; petiole and gaster smooth and shining. Pilosity: Cephalic surface without hairs or pubescence, anterior clypeal margin with few simple hairs, mandibles and antennae with appressed pubescence, mesosoma with scattered short hairs (hair length 0.08), gaster with scattered hairs. Color: Uniform yellow, gastral tergites yellow with brown tint.

Type Material
Sharaf et al. (2017) - (w.) Sudan. Afrotropical. Type not located.