Platythyrea cribrinodis

This species makes simple nest entrances in the ground and forages individually for insect prey. This ant has a powerful sting and care should be taken in the field. Often active during the day, workers can be observed carrying back insect prey items including termites.

Distribution
This taxon was described from Mozambique. It is also found in Kenya, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana.

Nomenclature

 *  cribrinodis. Ponera cribrinodis Gerstäcker, 1859: 262 (w.) MOZAMBIQUE. [Also described as new by Gerstäcker, 1862: 504.] Emery, 1896i: 154 (m.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1971b: 1198 (l.). Combination in Platythyrea: Roger, 1863a: 173. Senior synonym of brevidentata, brevinodis: Brown, 1975: 8.
 * brevinodis. Platythyrea cribrinodis var. brevinodis Santschi, 1914b: 47 (w.) KENYA. Santschi, 1935b: 257 (m.). Junior synonym of cribrinodis: Brown, 1975: 8.
 * punctata. Platythyrea cribrinodis var. punctata Arnold, 1915: 24 (w.) ZIMBABWE. [Junior secondary homonym of punctata Smith, above.] Replacement name: brevidentata Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 759.
 * brevidentata. Platythyrea cribrinodis var. brevidentata Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 759. Replacement name for punctata Arnold, 1915: 24. [Junior secondary homonym of Pachycondyla punctata Smith, F. 1858b: 108.] Junior synonym of cribrinodis: Brown, 1975: 8.

Additional References

 * [[Media:Gerstacker 1859.pdf|Gerstäcker, A. 1859. [Untitled. Introduced by: "Hr. Peters berichtete über sein Reisewerk, von dem die Insecten bis zum 64., die Botanik bis zum 34. Bogen gedruckt sind und theilte den Schluss der Diagnosen der von Hrn. Dr. Gerstäcker bearbeiteten Hymenopteren mit."]. Monatsber. K. Preuss. Akad. Wiss. Berl. 1858: 261-264 PDF]]