Polyrhachis militaris

Identification
Rigato (2016) - A large member of the militaris-group with a somewhat rectangular head, hairy body and appendages, and long, usually at least partially golden pubescence, which hides most of the body sculpture.

The head of Polyrhachis militaris (and Polyrhachis doudou as well, see above) is subrectangular and clearly different from the rounded outline of similar species, i.e. Polyrhachis epinotalis, Polyrhachis gagates, Polyrhachis medusa and Polyrhachis schistacea. These species have a more or less elongate, oval or suboval head, mostly with a widely convex posterior margin and usually (except most epinotalis) the head is slightly wider behind than in front of the eyes. Moreover, militaris and doudou have a blunt margination behind each eye delimiting head dorsum from the sides.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Angola, Cameroun, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia.

Nomenclature

 *  militaris. Formica militaris Fabricius, 1782: 493 (q.) "Tropical Africa". Smith, F. 1858b: 72 (m.); Mayr, 1866b: 886 (w.). Combination in Myrma: Billberg, 1820: 104; in Polyrhachis: Smith, F. 1858b: 72; in P. (Myrma): Santschi, 1914b: 140. Senior synonym of bruta, calabarica, cupreopubescens, ssibangensis, striativentris: Bolton, 1973b: 313; of epinotalis, nkomoensis: Dorow, 1995: 36, 37 respectively. Material of the unavailable names argentatus, dido, pleurata, sankisiana, transversaria referred here by Bolton, 1973b: 313.
 * cupreopubescens. Polyrhachis militaris r. cupreopubescens Forel, 1879a: 120 (q.) "AFRICA". Forel, 1907a: 38 (w.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1953e: 207 (l.). Combination in P. (Myrma): Santschi, 1914b: 140. Raised to species: Dalla Torre, 1893: 261. Subspecies of militaris: Mayr, 1895: 154; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 998. Junior synonym of militaris: Bolton, 1973b: 313.
 * striativentris. Polyrhachis militaris r. striativentris Emery, 1892d: 566 (w.) IVORY COAST. Santschi, 1912b: 166 (q.). Combination in P. (Myrma): Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 999. Subspecies of militaris: Emery, 1896d: 777; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 999. Junior synonym of militaris: Bolton, 1973b: 313.
 * calabarica. Polyrhachis militaris var. calabarica Forel, 1907a: 38 (w.) NIGERIA. Junior synonym of militaris: Bolton, 1973b: 313.
 * ssibangensis. Polyrhachis militaris var. ssibangensis Forel, 1907a: 38 (w.) GABON. Santschi, 1910c: 400 (q.). Combination in P. (Myrma): Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 998. Junior synonym of militaris: Bolton, 1973b: 313.
 * bruta. Polyrhachis militaris st. bruta Santschi, 1912b: 166 (q.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. Santschi, 1924b: 223 (w.). Combination in P. (Myrma): Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 998. Junior synonym of militaris: Bolton, 1973b: 313.
 * nkomoensis. Polyrhachis militaris var. nkomoensis Santschi, 1924b: 222 (w.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (in key). [First available use of Polyrhachis (Myrma) militaris r. cupreopubescens var. nkomoensis Forel, 1916: 447 (w.q.m.); unavailable name (Bolton, 1973b: 313).] Junior synonym of militaris: Dorow, 1995: 37.

Worker
Rigato (2016) - HL 2.37–3.24, HW 1.76–2.51, CI 70–80, SL 3.08–3.92, SI 152–176, FW 0.63–0.82, FI 31–37, PW 1.52–2.32, WL 3.37–4.45, HTL 3.40–4.60. (n=32)