Polyrhachis schlueteri

Bolton (1973) - Arnold (1924:748) states that the species is limited to hot and moist localities, but otherwise nothing has been reported on the habits of this species. Alates have been recorded as follows: Tanzania: August. South Africa: January.

Identification
Bolton (1973) - A member of the Polyrhachis militaris species-group, from which schlueteri is very easily separated by the absence of standing hairs on the dorsum of the head, alitrunk and gaster and by the dense silver-grey pubescence.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zimbabwe.

Nomenclature

 *  schlueteri. Polyrhachis militaris r. schlueteri Forel, 1886f: 195 (w.) EAST AFRICA. Arnold, 1924: 748 (q.). Combination in P. (Myrma): Santschi, 1914b: 143. Raised to species: Dalla Torre, 1893: 268. Subspecies of schistacea: Santschi, 1914e: 42; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 1003; Arnold, 1924: 747. Status as species: Forel, 1907g: 92; Forel, 1914d: 261; Santschi, 1914b: 143; Emery, 1925b: 200; Bolton, 1973b: 321. Senior synonym of indigens: Arnold, 1924: 747; of plebeia: Bolton, 1973b: 321.
 * indigens. Polyrhachis (Myrma) schlueteri var. indigens Forel, 1914d: 261 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA. Junior synonym of schlueteri: Arnold, 1924: 747.
 * plebeia. Polyrhachis (Myrma) schlueteri var. plebeia Santschi, 1914b: 143 (w.) KENYA. Junior synonym of schlueteri: Bolton, 1973b: 321.

Worker
Bolton (1973) - TL 8.6-9.1, HL 2.00-2.23, HW 1.66-1.78, CI 79-85, SL 2.25-2.60, SI 142-149, PW 1.54-1.78, MTL 2.49-2.60. (15 measured).

Anterior clypeal margin arcuate and entire to weakly and shallowly impressed in the middle. Eyes strongly convex, situated well back on the sides of the head, which are slightly convex both in front of and behind the eyes. Behind the eyes the sides rounding gently into the weakly convex occipital margin. The shape of the head and placement of the eyes gives the ant a very long-faced appearance. Alitrunk marginate laterally throughout the length of the sides. Pronotal spines large, their outer borders continuous with the line of margination of the segment, not passing through an angle between the pronotum and the body of the spine. Propodeum with a pair of small, blunt tubercles. Promesonotal suture and metanotal groove distinct, the latter impressed. Petiole with a pair of strong dorsal spines subtended by a pair of laterally placed, broad, acute teeth. Anterior face of first gastral segment concave.

Erect hairs absent from all dorsal surfaces except the anterior clypeal margin and gastral apex. Pubescence extremely dense everywhere, hiding the sculpture and silver-grey in colour.

Sculpture everywhere of a fine, dense reticulation. Colour black, the legs usually brown-black.

Whole insect with a silvery appearance in life due to the dense pubescence.

Queen
Bolton (1973) - As worker apart from the usual modifications associated with the alitrunk.

Type Material
Bolton (1973) - Holotype worker, EAST AFRICA (Schluter).