Messor ruginodis

Bolton (1982) - Apart from the very distinctive Messor regalis this is the only other species of Messor recorded from the Congo. It is possible to decide from Stitz's description that ruginodis is related to Messor capensis and its allies, but further placement cannot be attempted without the types as the description alone is not good enough. It must suffice for the present to state that, apart from regalis, no Messor species is known to extend its range into the Congo, so ruginodis remains an enigma. As the species, whatever it really is, is definitely not closely related to barbarus, I have raised it to species-level here.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Congo.

Nomenclature

 * . Messor barbarus r. ruginodis Stitz, 1916: 374, fig. 1 (w.) CONGO.
 * Type-material: 15 syntype workers.
 * Type-locality: Congo (“French Congo”): Fort Crampel, xi.1910, 6.i.1911 (Schubotz).
 * Type-depository: unknown (not found in MNHU (Bolton, 1982: 353)).
 * As unavailable (infrasubspecific) name: Emery, 1922c: 98.
 * Subspecies of barbarus: Emery, 1921f: 71; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 803.
 * Status as species: Bolton, 1982: 353 (nomen dubium); Bolton, 1995b: 256.
 * Distribution: Congo.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Stitz H. 1916. Formiciden. Ergebnisse der Zweiten Deutschen Zentral-Afrika Expedition 1: 369-405.
 * 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