Melissotarsus emeryi

Identification
This light yellow species can be identified by the abrupt anterior edge of the pronotum in dorsal and lateral view. Many workers and several queens nest under the bark of a a tree tunneling their galleries in live wood, close to the surface. They tend armoured scale insects and only depart from their nest for mating flights.

Distribution
This taxon was described from Ethiopia. It is also found in Mozambique, Senegal, Zambia, South Africa, Kenya, Central African Republic, Sudan, Ghana and Saudi Arabia.

Nomenclature

 *  emeryi. Melissotarsus emeryi Forel, 1907c: 133 (w.) ETHIOPIA. Bolton, 1982: 335 (m.). Senior synonym of compressus, pilipes: Bolton, 1982: 337.
 * pilipes. Melissotarsus emeryi var. pilipes Santschi, 1914b: 71 (w.) KENYA. Junior synonym of emeryi: Bolton, 1982: 337.
 * compressus. Melissotarsus compressus Weber, 1952: 1, figs. 28, 29 (q.) CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC. Junior synonym of emeryi: Bolton, 1982: 337.

Additional References

 * [[Media:2010-45-53-Ben-Dov and Fisher.pdf| Ben-Dov, Y. & Fisher, B.L. 2010. The mutualism of Melissotarsus ants and armoured scale insects in Africa and Madagascar: distribution, host plants and biology.  Entomologia Hellenica 19:45-53. PDF]]


 * [[Media:Bolton 1982.pdf|Bolton, B. 1982. Afrotropical species of the myrmecine ant genera Cardiocondyla, Leptothorax, Melissotarsus, Messor and Cataulacus (Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology, 46: 307-370 PDF]]