SUBFAMILY PONERINAE - Genus Psalidomyrmex
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The Ants of Africa SUBFAMILY PONERINAE - Genus Psalidomyrmex |
| Contents - Ponerinae - PONERINAE Introduction |
In Tribe PONERINI. Plectroctena group
Diagnostic
Features - Medium to large ants. Basic sculpture of large shallow
foveolae or pits, from each of which a single seta arises, interspaces
between the foveolae usually finely striate. Mandibles edentate to weakly
toothed, varying in shape from subtriangular to falcate, always with the
apex prolonged into a long, acute point. Basal mandibular groove distinct.
Promesonotal suture distinct and mobile. Middle and hind tibiae with a
single pectinate spur, claws simple. André's (1890) genus
description is at 
.
Genus revised by Bolton (1975b), the genus members were described as rare and restricted to the forest zones (Bolton, 1973a).
Bernard (1952), whose findings included foveolatus from savanna, also described a queen of what he took to be a new species - "clavicornis" - but this was reassigned to the status of junior synonym of Pachycondyla talpa (by W.L. Brown, unpublished?, in Bolton, 1975b). Bolton & Brown (2002) have added a few extra findings.
Antennal variation as illustrated by Bernard (1952).
Key to African species (adapted from Bolton, 1975b):
| 1 | Mandibles falcate, masticatory margin concave and with a number of short teeth | 2 |
| -- | Mandibles subtriangular, with an elongate apical tooth, otherwise without teeth | 4 |
| 2 |  In
dorsal view the first gastral tergite strongly narrowed anteriorly;
large species (HW > 2.50 PW > 1.70); mature adult black; TL
14.8-15.8 mm |
West Africa, Congo Basin, east into Uganda - reichenspergeri |
| -- | In dorsal view first gastral tergite not narrowed anteriorly; smaller species (HW < 2.50 PW < 1.70); adult colour red-brown | 3 |
| 3 |  Spaces
between foveolae on pronotal dorsum and first gastral tergite densely
striate; antennal scapes relatively short (SI < 75); eyes small
diameter > 0.26; TL 8.5 mm; dark red-brown, shiny |
West Africa - foveolatus |
| -- |  Spaces
between foveolae mostly smooth and shining; antennal scapes relatively
long (SI > 80); eyes larger, diameter > 0.26; TL 9.6-11.4 mm; deep
red-brown |
Ghana - sallyae |
| 4 |  Antennal
scapes relatively long (SI 90-102); head relatively narrow; petiole
longer than broad; TL 13.6-14.6 mm; black |
Cameroun & Congo Basin - wheeleri |
| -- | Antennal scapes shorter (SI 79-88); head relatively broad; petiole broader than long | 5 |
| 5 |  Lobes
of frontal carinae smooth and shining at level of antennal insertions.
Median clypeus smooth or with transverse striations; TL 10.8-12.2 mm |
Principé & Cameroun - feae |
| -- |  Lobes
of frontal carinae uniformly striate. Median clypeus longitudinally
striate; TL 11.4-16.2 mm; black |
West Africa & Congo Basin - procerus |
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PONERINAE Introduction | © 2007 - Brian Taylor CBiol
FIBiol FRES 11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K. |
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