Bondroitia saharensis

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Only known from the queen and male caste. Bolton (1987) - Bondroitia saharensis is similar to Bondroitia lujae. The female is much smaller than that of lujae; HW 1.94 in lujae, HW 1.18 in saharensis; maximum width of mesoscutum 2.72 in lujae, 1.56 in saharensis. The female of saharensis is yellow in colour, as opposed to black in lujae, and if the size discrepancy between lujae female and worker is expressed in saharensis then workers of the latter will be very small indeed. Eyes of the saharensis female are relatively larger than those of lujae, 0.44 x HW in the former and 0.24 x HW in the latter. Males show the differences in antennal segment count and eye position mentioned in the diagnosis of the genus, rendering them easy to differentiate.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Niger.

Castes
One of two species of the genus, this species is known from queens and males with workers yet to be collected. Its congener is known from all three castes.

Nomenclature

 * . Diplomorium saharensis Santschi, 1923e: 278 (q.m.) NIGER.
 * Type-material: 3 syntype queens, 1 syntype male.
 * Type-locality: Niger (“Sahara central”): Bilma, ix.-xi.1913 (Noel).
 * Type-depository: MNHN.
 * Combination in Bondroitia: Bolton, 1987: 277.
 * Status as species: Ettershank, 1966: 100; Bolton, 1987: 277; Bolton, 1995b: 80; Vonshak, et al. 2009: 41; Borowiec, L. 2014: 21.
 * Distribution: Israel, Niger.

Type Material
Bolton (1987) - Syntype females, male, NIGER: Bilma, ix-xi. 1913 (Noel) [examined].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
 * Santschi F. 1923. Descriptions de nouveaux Formicides éthiopiens et notes diverses. I. Revue Zoologique Africaine (Brussels) 11: 259-295.
 * Vonshak M., and A. Ionescu-Hirsch. 2009. A checklist of the ants of Israel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Israel Journal of Entomology 39: 33-55.