Polyrhachis phidias Forel

Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 4088 (1) : 37

Polyrhachis phidias Forel

Polyrhachis phidias Forel, 1910a: 450 . Syntype workers, Equatorial Africa (locality unknown) (MHNG) [examined].

Diagnosis. A small militaris -group species with trapezoidal head, the lateral pair of petiolar spines a little longer than the dorsal pair, and scape devoid of standing hairs.

Bolton (1973) saw the two syntype workers only. I could study a long series of workers and gynes that match the type specimens very well. Their measurements are as follows:

Worker (n=20). HL 1.13–1.30, HW 0.97–1.13, CI 83–91, SL 1.15–1.28, SI 109–119, FW 0.42–0.47, FI 40–44, PW 1.08–1.24, WL 1.37–1.66, HTL 1.11–1.30.

Gyne (n=6). HL 1.30–1.40, HW 1.15–1.20, CI 83–89, SL 1.27–1.35, SI 110–117, FW 0.46–0.52, FI 40–44, ScW 1.30–1.37, MnL 1.57–1.70, WL 2.13–2.21, HTL 1.32–1.50.

Material examined. CENTRAL AFRICAN REP.: P.N. Dzanga–Ndoki, Mabéa Bai 21.4 km 53° NE Bayanga, 3°02’N 16°25’E, 510 m, 1–7.v.2001 (B.L. Fisher) #4004 (2 w, CAS: CASENT0415811, CASENT0415829); Res. Dzanga–Sangha, 12.7 km 326° NW Bayanga, 3°00’N 16°12’E, 420 m, 10–17.v.2001 #4123 (B.L. Fisher) (1 g, CAS: CASENT0403726); Res. Dzanga–Sangha, 12.7 km 326° NW Bayanga, 3°00’N 16°12’E, 470 m, 10–17.v.2001 #4087 (B.L. Fisher) (3 g, 9 w, CAS: CASENT0403844, CASENT0403878, CASENT0403902, CASENT0403922, CASENT0403939, CASENT0403944, CASENT0403982, CASENT0403990, CASENT0403991, CASENT0403996, CASENT0403997, CASENT0404033); Res. Dzanga– Sangha, 12.7 km 326° NW Bayanga, 3°00.27’N 16°11.55’E, 420 m, 11.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 g, CAS: CASENT0090716 CAR01-S105); Res. Dzanga–Sangha, 12.7 km 326° NW Bayanga, 3°00.27’N 16°11.55’E, 420 m, 12.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0090832 CAR01-S120); Res. Dzanga–Sangha, 12.7 km 326° NW Bayanga, 3°00.27’N 16°11.55’E, 420 m, 15–16.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0087662 CAR01- M142); Res. Dzanga–Sangha, 12.7 km 326° NW Bayanga, 3°00.27’N 16°11.55’E, 420 m, 16–17.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 g, CAS: CASENT0087540 CAR01-M153); P.N. Dzanga–Ndoki, 37.9 km 169° S Lidjombo, 2°22’N 16°10’E, 360 m, 21.v.2001 #4128 (B.L. Fisher) (CAS: 2 w CASENT403504, 1 w CASENT0403545, 3 w CASENT403589); P.N. Dzanga–Ndoki, 38.6 km 173° S Lidjombo, 2°21.60’N 16°03.20’E, 350 m, 22.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0092631 CAR01-S232). TANZANIA: Kigoma Region, Gombe Stream N.P., 4°42’S 29°37’E, thickset woodland, from trail, 798–1115 m, ix.2009–i.2010 (R. O’Malley) (1 w, HLMD: RO 09- 1240).