Polyrhachis cornuta

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
A member of the Polyrhachis militaris species-group. Bolton (1973) - As stated by Stitz in the original description the structure of the petiole in this species is its most distinguishing character. The petiole form and shape of the head ally this species very closely to Polyrhachis phidias, whilst the overall build and sculpturation places the species firmly in the Polyrhachis fissa complex of the militaris-group. Differences from phidias include the sculpturation and the smaller size of that species.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Democratic Republic of Congo.

Nomenclature

 *  cornuta. Polyrhachis cornuta Stitz, 1910: 150 (w.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. Combination in P. (Myrma): Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 994. See also: Bolton, 1973b: 300.

Worker
Bolton (1973) - TL 5.6, HL 1.42, HW 1.16, CI 82, SL 1.60, SI 138, PW 1.20, MTL 1.58.

Anterior clypeal margin arcuate and entire. Eyes convex, large and prominent. Sides of head in front of eyes more or less straight, somewhat convergent anteriorly. Behind the eyes the sides of the head almost straight, meeting the shallowly convex occipital margin almost in a right-angle. The eye itself is set in a somewhat impressed area upon the side of the head. Alitrunk marginate laterally throughout its length, the marginations interrupted at the sutures. Pronotum armed with a pair of broad, flattened, subtriangular spines; the propodeum with a pair of minute teeth. Promesonotal suture well developed; metanotal groove distinct and impressed. Dorsal surfaces of the constituent sclerites of the alitrunk convex. Petiole with a pair of short erect dorsal spines and an enormously developed pair of lateral horns which curve upwards, outwards and backwards around the base of the first gastral segment. These lateral spines are extremely thick at the base and taper apically. Anterior face of the first gastral segment concave medially.

All dorsal surfaces of the head and body with numerous long, erect hairs, which are however absent from the antennal scapes. Pubescence very fine and sparse, greyish, densest on the sides of the alitrunk and on the gaster.

Clypeus and gaster finely and densely superficially reticulate. Head, dorsum and sides of alitrunk, and anterior face of petiole longitudinally striate-rugose, more faintly so on the petiole than elsewhere.

Black, with legs, mandibles and apical six segments of the antennal funiculus brown or yellow-brown.

Type Material
Bolton (1973) - Holotype worker, CONGO (KINSHASA) : Kuako, Kimpoko (Buttner) [examined].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection