Polyrhachis esarata

Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 4088 (1) : 20

Polyrhachis esarata Bolton

Polyrhachis esarata Bolton, 1973: 303 , figs. 45, 55. Holotype worker, GHANA: eastern region, Bunso, by pyrethrum knockdown (sample B. 3/8), 7.vii.1969 (D. Leston) (BMNH) [not seen].

Diagnosis. A medium sized militaris -group species very similar to decellei (see above) and separated by the latter mostly because of its comparatively larger and elliptical eyes in profile, and shorter scape (SI <170 vs. SI> 170).

Polyrhachis esarata was described from a single worker. I consider as conspecific with it one worker and one gyne from Dem. Rep. of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea, respectively. The worker is a little larger than the holotype and lacks the distinctive couple of hairs on the head dorsum, but the corresponding hair pits are present. Also, the eyes are only moderately convex and not strongly protruding as in the type.

Worker. HL 1.65, HW 1.30, CI 79, SL 2.13, SI 164, FW 0.38, FI 29, PW 1.08, WL 2.27, HTL 2.19.

Gyne. HL 1.72, HW 1.40, CI 81, SL 2.08, SI 149, FW 0.42, FI 30, ScW 1.57, MnL 1.97, WL 2.87, HTL 2.34.

Material examined. EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Bioko, Moka, 3°21’36”N 8°39’49”E, 1300 m, 1–11.x.1998, at lights (D. Ubick, D.K. Dabney, R.C. Drewes, J.V. Vindum, L. Henwood, R.W. Tomos, M. Boko, M.P. Ndung) (1 g, CAS). DEM. REP. of the CONGO: 56 km N Matadi, 28.vii.1957 (E.S. Ross & R.E. Leech) (1 w, CAS).