Platythyrea cribrinodis

This species makes simple nest entrances in the ground and forages individually for insect prey. The sting is painful 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 based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Biology
Villet (1991) studied gamergate reproduction in this species

Nomenclature

 * . Ponera cribrinodis Gerstäcker, 1859: 262 (w.) (no state data).
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated, “several”).
 * Type-locality: Mozambique: (no further data) (Peters).
 * Type-depository: MNHU.
 * [Also described as new by Gerstäcker, 1862: 504; type-locality Mozambique from this reference.]
 * Emery, 1896i: 154 (m.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1971b: 1198 (l.).
 * Combination in Platythyrea: Roger, 1863a: 173; Roger, 1863b: 17.
 * Status as species: Roger, 1860: 295; Roger, 1863b: 17; Mayr, 1863: 442; Gerstäcker, 1871: 355; Emery, 1881a: 270; Emery, 1892a: 111; Dalla Torre, 1893: 27; Mayr, 1893: 200; Mayr, 1895: 125; Emery, 1895a: 177; Emery, 1896i: 154; Emery 1897e: 597; Forel, 1907a: 2; Forel, 1907g: 76; Mayr, 1907b: 10; Emery, 1911d: 29; Forel, 1911d: 361; Emery, 1912c: 1; Forel, 1913a: 110; Forel, 1913j: 208; Santschi, 1914b: 47; Arnold, 1915: 23; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 758; Menozzi, 1927f: 357; Menozzi, 1930b: 79; Menozzi, 1939c: 98; Weber, 1943c: 294; Menozzi & Consani, 1952: 59; Brown, 1975: 8; Bolton, 1995b: 336; Hita Garcia, et al. 2013: 221.
 * Senior synonym of brevidentata: Brown, 1975: 8; Bolton, 1995b: 336.
 * Senior synonym of brevinodis: Brown, 1975: 8; Bolton, 1995b: 336.
 * Distribution: Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe.
 * brevidentata. Platythyrea cribrinodis var. brevidentata Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 759.
 * Replacement name for Platythyrea cribrinodis punctata Arnold, 1915: 24. [Junior secondary homonym of Pachycondyla punctata Smith, F. 1858b: 108.]
 * Junior synonym of cribrinodis: Brown, 1975: 8; Bolton, 1995b: 336.
 * brevinodis. Platythyrea cribrinodis var. brevinodis Santschi, 1914b: 47 (w.) KENYA.
 * Type-material: 5 syntype workers.
 * Type-localities: Kenya (“Afrique orientale anglaise”): 3 workers Wa-Nyika, Samburu, 1904 (Ch. Alluaud & R. Jeannel), 1 worker Wa-Taita, Mwataté, 1909 (Ch. Alluaud & R. Jeannel), 1 worker Wa-Kamba, Kibwezi, 1904 (Ch. Alluaud & R. Jeannel).
 * Type-depository: NHMB.
 * Santschi, 1935b: 257 (m.).
 * Subspecies of cribrinodis: Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 759; Santschi, 1935b: 257.
 * Junior synonym of cribrinodis: Brown, 1975: 8; Bolton, 1995b: 336.
 * punctata. Platythyrea cribrinodis var. punctata Arnold, 1915: 24 (w.) ZIMBABWE.
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-locality: Zimbabwe: Victoria Falls (G. Arnold).
 * Type-depository: SAMC.
 * [Junior secondary homonym of Pachycondyla punctata Smith, F. 1858b: 108.]
 * Replacement name: Platythyrea cribrinodis var. brevidentata Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 759.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Arnold G. 1915. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part I. Ponerinae, Dorylinae. Annals of the South African Museum 14: 1-159.
 * Emery C. 1881. Spedizione italiana nell'Africa equatoriale. Risultati zoologici. Formiche. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale 16: 270-276.
 * Garcia F.H., Wiesel E. and Fischer G. 2013.The Ants of Kenya (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)Faunal Overview, First Species Checklist, Bibliography, Accounts for All Genera, and Discussion on Taxonomy and Zoogeography. Journal of East African Natural History, 101(2): 127-222
 * IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
 * Menozzi C. 1930. Formiche della Somalia italiana meridionale. Memorie della Società Entomologica Italiana. 9: 76-130.
 * Menozzi C. 1939. Hymenoptera Formicidae. Missione Biologica nel Paese dei Borana. 3: 97-110.
 * Menozzi C., M. Consani. 1952. Missione biologica Sagan-Omo diretta dal Prof. E. Zavattari. Hymenoptera Formicidae. Rivista di Biologia Coloniale 11: 57-71.
 * Santschi F. 1935. Hymenoptera. I. Formicidae. Mission Scientifique de l'Omo 2: 255-277.
 * Weber N. A. 1943. The ants of the Imatong Mountains, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 93: 263-389.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1922. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. VIII. A synonymic list of the ants of the Ethiopian region. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45: 711-1004