Strongylognathus afer

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia.

Biology
This species is a slave-maker, but its host is.

Nomenclature

 *  afer. Strongylognathus afer Emery, 1884a: 380 (footnote) (q.) ALGERIA. Forel, 1900e: 279 (w.); Santschi, 1910d: 71 (m.). Subspecies of huberi: Medina, 1889: 31; Dalla Torre, 1893: 130; Forel, 1900e: 279. Revived status as species: Santschi, 1910d: 71; Emery, 1924d: 285; Bolton, 1976: 305. Senior synonym of foreli: Sanetra & Güsten, 2001: 4.
 * foreli. Strongylognathus huberi subsp. foreli Emery, 1924d: 286 (w.) ALGERIA. [First available use of Strongylognathus huberi subsp. huberi var. foreli Emery, 1909d: 709; unavailable name.] Subspecies of huberi: Kutter, 1923: 388. Raised to species: Bolton, 1976: 308. Junior synonym of afer: Sanetra & Güsten, 2001: 4.

Description
Female. Notably smaller than other species of the S. huberi group execpt S. caeciliae Forel, 1897 and S. minutus Radchenko, 1991. Head considerably smaller than in worker, mesosoma only slightly longer; female/worker thorax volume ratio (see Stille 1996) 2.1-2.2 as measured for samples from Nefza, J. Gora’a and Le Kef. Head nearly as wide as long, widest at eye level or somewhat posteriorly (eyes excluded) but lateral margin only very slightly convex (Fig. 1). Occipital corners rather rounded and posterior margin weakly concave. Scape when directed backwards fails to reach occipital margin by about 1½ times its greatest width. Eyes situated medially on head sides, somewhat bulging (greatest diameter 0.180-0.190mm). Head surface generally smooth and shining medially, almost without any sculpture in some specimens but shallow longitudinally striate over most of the surface in others. Lateral parts always longitudinally rugose with some anastomosing, posteriorly converging archedly to lateral ocelli. Pronotal corners rather angular, well visible from above. Propodeal teeth developed as short acute denticles, sometimes nearly absent. Mesoscutum with distinct longitudinal rugosity and weak microsculpture except for anterior central and posterior lateral portions, which are smooth and shiny, as are scutellum and metanotum except on their outermost parts (Fig. 2). Propodeum and often also lateral parts of mesosoma with well developed punctate-reticulate microsculpture and some rugae, especially around the pronotal corners. Petiolar nodes as in Fig. 3, surface largely covered with distinct microsculpture as on propodeum, weak to absent only around center of petiolus; rugosity scarce and indistinct if present at all. Body color dark blackish brown in fresh specimens, first gastral tergite and especially appendages lighter.

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.
 * Cagniant, H. "Liste actualisee des fourmis du Maroc (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)." Myrmecologische Nachrichten 8 (2006): 193-200.
 * Cagniant, H. Les peuplements de fourmis des forêts algériennes: écologie, biocénotique, essai biologique. Universite de Toulouse, 1973.
 * Forel A. 1900. Fourmis du Japon. Nids en toile. Strongylognathus Huberi et voisins. Fourmilière triple. Cyphomymrex Wheeleri. Fourmis importées. Mitt. Schweiz. Entomol. Ges. 10: 267-287.
 * IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
 * Sanetra, M., and R. Güsten. "The socially parasitic ant genus Strongylognathus Mayr in North Africa (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae)." Zootaxa 20 (2001): 1-20.
 * Santschi, F. "Nouvelles fourmis de Tunisie (suite). [part b]." Bulletin de la Société d' Histoire naturelle de l' Afrique du Nord 1 (1910): 70-72.
 * Santschi, F. 1910. Nouvelles fourmis de Tunisie (suite). Bulletin de la Société d'Histoire Naturelle de l'Afrique du Nord 1: 70-72