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
Anochetus traegaordhi is a member of the A. 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
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 (Collingwood 1985).

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.