Plagiolepis abyssinica

Nests in partially rotting wood.

Identification
Sharaf et al. (2011) - P. abyssinica was originally described as a subspecies of Plagiolepis exigua but differs on a number of points. For P. abyssinica, the body color is brownish and the antennal scapes surpass the posterior margin of the head, whereas in P. exigua the color is yellowish and the antennal scapes do not reach posterior margin. Moreover, the eyes in P. abyssinica are consistently larger (EL 0.24 X HW) with 9 ommatidia in the longest row and exigua is smaller (EL 0.19 X HW), with only 6 ommatidia in the longest row. P. exigua as described by Forel (1894) had a smooth, shiny appearance but with sparse punctations on the head and gaster, P. abyssinica has no obvious punctuation.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Eritrea, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia.

Biology
Taken in a roadside tree, nesting in partially rotting wood.

Castes
Queens and males are unknown.

Nomenclature

 *  abyssinica. Plagiolepis exigua r. abyssinica Forel, 1894b: 73 (w.) ETHIOPIA. Raised to species: Collingwood, 1985: 297. See also: Sharaf, Aldawood & Taylor, 2011: 204.

Worker
Sharaf et al. (2011):

TL 1.20, HL 0.30, HW 0.30, SL 0.29, EL 0.07, PRW 0.18, ML 0.30, CI 97, SI 100.

Collingwood (1985) gave a typical worker from Fayfa, Saudi Arabia, as: TL 1.25, HL 0.35, HW 0.28, CI 80, SI 100, EL 0.05 (0.18 X HW) Body blackish brown, femora yellowish brown, antennae, clypeus and mandibles yellowish, smooth and shining. Head nearly as long as broad with clearly convex sides. Occiput distinctly concave with rounded corners. Head dorsum with scattered short yellow pubescence. Eyes relatively large, 0.24 X HW, with 9 ommatidia in the longest row and occupying less than one quarter of head sides. Antennal scape just surpassing the posterior margin of head. Clypeus and mandibles with relatively abundant long yellow hairs. Area in front of eyes with several pairs of long hairs. Mesosoma and gaster with relatively abundant pubescence. Erect pilosity of gastral tergites long and situated on the posterior margins.

Type Material
Sharaf et al. (2011) - Syntype worker. Ehtiopia, (Ilg) [examined]

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Finzi B. 1939. Materiali zoologici dell'Eritrea raccolti da G. Müller durante la spedizione dell'Istituto Sieroterapico Milanese e conservati al Museo di Trieste. Parte III. Hymenoptera: Formicidae. Atti del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Trieste 14: 153-168.
 * Madl M. 2019. Notes on the ant fauna of Eritrea (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae): type specimens deposited in the Natural History Museum Vienna (Austria) and a preliminary checklist. Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien, B 121: 9-18.
 * Sharaf M.R., A. Aldawood, and B. Taylor. 2011. The formicine ant genus Plagiolepis Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Arabian Peninsula, with description of two new species. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 137(1+2): 203-215.
 * 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