Pachycondyla (Xiphopelta) ingesta (Wheeler)
Type location Zaïre (Euponera (Mesoponera) ingesta,
Wheeler, 1922: 88, illustrated, worker); collectors Lang and Chapin),
all specimens taken from toad stomachs, at Akenge (type), Niapu,
Fardaje and Lubila. Workers only described. The photomontage of the
holotype is from the MCZ website
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Description by Wheeler (1922) - TL 5.5-6.0 mm. Head somewhat longer
than broad and about as broad in front as behind, with evenly convex
sides and feebly excavated posterior border. Eyes small, flat, broadly
elliptical, placed at the anterior fifth of the sides of the head.
Clypeus carinate, its anterior border entire, rounded and projecting
in the middle, sinuate at the sides.
Mandibles moderately long, convex, their apical borders with 8 or 9
subequal teeth. Antennal scapes extending slightly beyond the
posterior border of the head; first and second funicular joints
subequal, about one and one-half times as long as broad, joints 4 to 6
somewhat shorter, remaining joints, except the last, as broad as long.
Pronotum as long as broad, somewhat depressed above and very bluntly
submarginate on the sides. Mesonotum convex, transversely elliptical,
nearly twice as broad as long, completely surrounded by a strong
suture; metanotal groove distinct. Propodeum nearly as long as the
pro- and mesonotum together, but somewhat lower, the base and
declivity straight, subequal, forming an obtuse angle with each other,
the former horizontal in profile, the latter flat; marginate on the
sides. Petiolar scale in profile high and cuneate, its anterior
surface feebly convex from side to side, its posterior surface flat,
with a shallow longitudinal impression in the middle; the border
evenly rounded, semicircular from behind, slightly narrowed ventrally.
Gaster short, postpetiole sharply truncated in front, the constriction
between it and the gaster feeble. Legs moderately long.
Mandibles shining, finely and rather indistinctly punctate; remainder of body
subopaque; clypeal carina and legs more shining; very finely and
densely punctate, especially the head, scapes and thorax. Hairs almost
lacking on the head, thorax, and appendages; on the gaster pale
yellow, sparse, erect, slender, and rather uniformly distributed;
pubescence very fine, yellowish, moderately abundant, investing the
whole body, including the appendages. Overall castaneous; legs
somewhat paler; mandibles deep red, with black teeth; in some
specimens the extensor surfaces of the tibiae are yellowish.
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