Polyrhachis asomaningi

An arboreal, forest species. The type specimens were obtained from fogging samples in primary forest in Ghana.

Identification
A member of the Polyrhachis militaris species-group. Bolton (1973) - Closely related to fissa and its allies but separated from them by the presence of long, erect hairs standing out from the antennal scapes. Also characteristic of the species is the sculpturation, which is coarser and less organised than in others of the complex where it tends to form organised longitudinal or transverse rugae or striae on the entirety of the dorsal alitrunk.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Central African Republic, Gabon, Ghana.

Nomenclature

 *  asomaningi. Polyrhachis asomaningi Bolton, 1973b: 298, figs. 44, 53 (w.) GHANA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 5.9, HL 1.29, HW 1.07, CI 80, SL 1.40, SI 130, PW 1.22, MTL 1.37.

Mandibles with five teeth; the anterior clypeal margin with a small, shallow median concavity. Eyes strongly convex, the sides of the head in front of the eyes shallowly convex and converging anteriorly. Behind the eyes the sides form a blunt angle with the shallowly convex occipital margin. Pronotum and mesonotum strongly marginate laterally, the propodeum more weakly so; the margination interrupted at the sutures. Pronotum armed with a pair of broad, flat, triangular spines whose outer edges form a continuous convexity with the lateral marginations of the segment, which incurve strongly to the promesonotal suture. In dorsal view the lateral marginations of the mesonotum are convexly arcuate, those of the propodeum about parallel. Pronotum and mesonotum gently transversely convex dorsally, the propodeum more sharply so, armed posteriorly with a pair of small upcurved spines. Declivity of propodeum strongly concave. Promesonotal suture distinct, weakly arched; metanotal groove broad and deeply impressed. Petiole armed with two pairs of spines, the dorsal pair somewhat shorter than the laterals which are directed outwards and weakly upwards and backwards. Anterior face of first gastral segment concave, to receive the convex posterior surface of the petiole.

Head, dorsal surfaces of body and the appendages with abundant long, off-white, erect hairs. Pubescence long, greyish, very sparse.

Clypeus very finely reticulate-rugose, more coarse on the sides of the median portion than on the centre. Sides of head reticulate-rugose, the dorsum longitudinally rugose with only a few transverse rugae. Dorsum of pronotum as dorsum of head, the longitudinal rugae predominating except on the lateral portions where a rugoreticulum is apparent. Dorsal surfaces of mesonotum and propodeum with a disoriented rugoreticulum which is also present, though finer, on the anterior surface of the petiole. The sides of the alitrunk more finely reticulate-rugose. Propodeal declivity finely rugose, more shiny thau the dorsum. Gaster coarsely and densely reticulate-punctate.

Colour black, dull, the gaster and propodeal declivity dully shining. Apical funicular segments yellowish brown.

Paratypes as holotype but with the following range of dimensions: TL 5.4-5.9, HL 1.22-1.34, HW 1.07-1.11, CI 79-86, SL 1.37-1.45, SI 128-130, PW 1.22-1.29, MTL 1.37-1.45. (6).

Type Material
Holotype worker, GHANA : Eastern Region, Mt Atewa, primary forest, by pyrethrum knock-down, sample A 12/6, 25.vii.1969 (D. Leston).

Paratype workers. GHANA : 2, Eastern Region, Mt Atewa, primary forest by pyrethrum knock-down, sample A 12/6, 25.vii.1969 (D. Leston) (BMNH); 2, same data as holotype but 23.vii.1969, samples A 7/3, A 7/4 (D. Leston) (UG, Legon; BMNH); 2, same data as holotype but 27.vii.1969, samples A 8/4, A 8/5 (D. Leston) BMNH).