Search

Polyrhachis gerstaeckeri Forel (Figures 6 a���c) Polyrhachis gerstaeckeri Forel, 1886: 197. Holotype worker, TANZANIA: Zanzibar (M. Hildebrandt) (MNHU) [examined]. Polyrhachis cubaensis var. striolatorugosa Mayr, 1893: 195. Holotype worker, TANZANIA: Zanzibar (F. Stuhlmann) [not seen, not at NHMW]. Syn. n. Diagnosis. A species in the viscosa -group with this distinctive character combination: 1) propodeal dorsum and declivity separated by a thin, medially arched ridge; 2) petiole quadrispinose (the mid-pair of spines longer); 3) all mesosomal segments distinctly transverse in dorsal view; 4) sculpture finely reticulate-punctate with an ill-defined longitudinal rugulation on mesosomal dorsum and cephalic vertex. Holotype worker. HL 1.60, HW 1.43, CI 89, SL 1.70, SI 119, FW 0.45, FI 31, PW 1.47, WL 2.08, HTL 1.72. (N.B.: gaster missing from the holotype) Clypeus faintly carinate, its anterior margin evenly convex. Head in full face view oval, wider behind than in front; sides and posterior margin weakly convex. Eyes placed close to posterior corners and moderately protruding. Scapes moderately long. Mesosoma stout, in profile pronotum anteriorly and propodeum slightly convex, mesonotum almost flat. In dorsal view pronotum, mesonotum and propodeum distinctly wider than long. Pronotal teeth mostly anteriorly directed, well developed and strong. Pronotum and mesonotum transversely weakly convex, propodeum more arched. Mesosoma distinctly marginate along its sides, the marginations not forming flanges or lobes. Promesonotal and metanotal sutures distinct, but not impressed. Propodeal dorsum and declivity separated by a distinct margin, medially more raised and almost toothlike. Propodeal teeth small, upturned and blunt. Petiole with four spines: dorsal pair almost parallel, upward directed and moderately bent backward, distinctly longer than the lateral pair. In frontal (or posterior) view the space between the dorsal pair very weakly concave, almost straight. Mandibles mostly finely shagreened. The whole body finely reticulate-punctate with superimposed fine and moderately developed rugulosity especially on cephalic and mesosomal dorsum. Head mostly reticulate-rugulose; mesosomal dorsum with longitudinal rugulosity. Propodeal declivity superficially finely reticulate. Standing hairs almost absent, except for those fringing the anterior clypeal margin. Pubescence on the body very short and sparse. Colour black throughout. A recently collected worker from Zanzibar (figs. 6a-c), the type locality of gerstaeckeri, has the following data: HL 1.50, HW 1.38, CI 92, SL 1.66, SI 120, FW 0.42, FI 30, PW 1.37, WL 1.93, HTL 1.63. Very similar to gerstaeckeri holotype, except that the margin between propodeal dorsum and declivity is more evenly convex and less medially pronounced. Also, it bears the following features, which cannot be seen in the gasterless holotype: First gastral tergite finely reticulate-punctate and faintly shining, widely and slightly concave anteriorly. Scattered standing hairs occurring on gastral tergites IV-V and all sternites. Gastral pubescence very short, sparse and inconspicuous (distance between adjacent hairlets at least twice the pubescence length). Also, I assign to gerstaeckeri 3 workers from coastal continental Tanzania and 1 from coastal Kenya: HL 1.45��� 1.58, HW 1.31���1.47, CI 87���95, SL 1.60���1.76, SI 118���123, FW 0.38���0.43, FI 29���31, PW 1.15���1.36, WL 1.85��� 2.08, HTL 1.52���1.72. (n=4) Comment. Bolton (1973) thought P. gerstaeckeri Forel was a synonym of P. cubaensis Mayr (see above); yet, for the reasons reported under cubaensis, and after the examination of the gerstaeckeri type, I consider gerstaeckeri as a distinct species and senior synonym of striolatorugosa Mayr. Both gerstaeckeri and striolatorugosa types come from Zanzibar and the original description of striolatorugosa (whose type has not been found) well matches the type of gerstaeckeri. However, P. gerstaeckeri does not correspond to the description of P. cubaensis provided by Bolton (1973). Polyrhachis gerstaeckeri differs for its transverse propodeal dorsum, less developed median prominence of the propodeal ridge between the propodeal teeth (Bolton also reported propodeal spines instead of teeth for ��� cubaensis ���), a weaker longitudinal rugosity, and absence of standing hairs from the dorsum of the body (some hairs are mentioned as occurring on head and gastral dorsum of the specimen described by Bolton, 1973). I examined the specimens Bolton used to describe cubaensis Mayr (whose type he did not see) and I think they correspond to P. cubaensis subsp. wilmsi Forel. Forel���s short description of wilmsi points out some important diagnostic features. Hence, I remove the subsp. wilmsi from the synonymy with cubaensis and raise it to species rank (see Comment under wilmsi). Polyrhachis gerstaeckeri shares several features with P. wilmsi, but the latter has a better defined margination between the propodeal dorsum and the declivity, with a stronger median prominence, and a more conspicuous rugulation on the head. The main differences between P. gerstaeckeri and P. wilmsi can be summarized as follows: Polyrhachis gerstaeckeri Polyrhachis wilmsi Size smaller, HL ��� 1.60, HW 1.50 Frons narrower, FI ca. 30 Frons wider, FI ca. 35 Frons and vertex devoid of standing hairs. Frons and vertex bearing a few pairs of standing hairs. Propodeal dorsum and declivity separated by a more or less Propodeal dorsum and declivity separated by a strongly arched ridge, medially at most hardly forming a toothlike arched ridge, medially forming a distinct toothlike prominence. Propodeal dorsum bearing upturned small teeth prominence. Propodeal dorsum bearing stout upturned spines at its posterior corners. at its posterior corners. Propodeal dorsum about 1.5 times as wide as long Propodeal dorsum about as wide as long Gastral pubescence more sparse. Each element is at least Gastral pubescence denser. Each element is at most about as about twice as distant as its own length from the closest one distant as its own length from the closest one Material examined. TANZANIA: Unguga Region, Jozani Forest Res. Zanzibar, 19 m, 6.26755 S 39.41111 E, 30.x���4.xi.2007, CEPF-TZ-10.4-F25 ground water forest, hand collected (P. Hawkes, M. Bhoke, U. Richard) (1 w, AFRC: AntWeb code CASENT0235679); Tanga, Maxamba, 29.v.1990, 72 A, on Citrus (L��hr) (3 w, BMNH). KENYA: Coastal province, Arabuko Sokoke forest, 50 m ca., 39��55���45.1��� E 3��19���16.1��� S, vi.2009, hand coll. (F. Hita Garcia & G. Fischer) (1 w, HLMD)., Published as part of Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Zootaxa 4088 (1) on pages 22-24, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261854

Polyrhachis alexisi Forel Polyrhachis alexisi Forel, 1916: 455, fig. 7. Syntype workers, DEM. REP. of the CONGO (H. Kohl) (MHNG) [not seen]. Diagnosis. The only species of the alexisi -group with a combination of four petiolar spines or teeth and immarginate propodeum. This rare, but distinctive species was known from type specimens only (Bolton, 1973). A recently collected worker fully matches the description and drawings reported by Bolton (l.c.) and has these measurements: HL 1.25, HW 1.11, CI 89, SL 1.41, SI 127, FW 0.30, FI 27, PW 1.00, WL 1.56, HTL 1.35. Material examined. CENTRAL AFRICAN REP.: P.N. Dzanga���Ndoki, 21.4 km 53�� NE Bayanga, 3��02.01���N 16��24.57���E, 510 m, 6.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0089667, CAR01-S66)., Published as part of Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Zootaxa 4088 (1) on page 10, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261854

Polyrhachis omissa n. sp. (Figures 11 a���c) Diagnosis. A stout species in the viscosa -group, with strongly reduced pilosity, opaque integument, propodeal dorsum and declivity separated by a medially protruding transverse ridge, and petiole armed with a lateral pair of spines and a dorsal pair of teeth. Very similar to P. v i s c o s a, but with ordinary shaped scape and first funicular joint. Holotype worker. HL 1.62, HW 1.49, CI 92, SL 1.80, SI 121, FW 0.41, FI 28 PW 1.33, WL 2.10, HTL 1.70. Clypeus ecarinate, its anterior margin evenly convex and medially crenulate. Head widely oval, distinctly wider around the level of the eyes and much narrower at the level of mandibular insertions. Frons relatively narrow, frontal carinae sinuous. Antennae moderately long. Eyes large and flat, placed close to the posterior corners of the head. Mesosoma stout, nearly flat in profile, mesonotum more than twice as wide as long. Promesonotal suture narrow, but well marked, metanotal suture faint, hardly visible. Pronotal teeth well developed and slightly diverging. Propodeal dorsum bearing an upturned small tooth at each posterior corner; propodeal dorsum and declivity separated by a thin ridge strongly medially raised as an antero-posteriorly flattened lobe. Petiolar scale wide, armed with 4 equidistant spines and teeth: a lateral pair of spines and a dorsal pair of sharp teeth; the space between dorsal teeth straight. First gastral tergite anteriorly concave. Integument matt; ground sculpture finely reticulate-punctate all over the body and more superficially so on appendages. A superimposed, irregular reticulate rugulosity covers most of head and mesosoma in a somewhat areolate pattern. Standing hairs almost lacking: occurring only at the anterior clypeal margin and on gastral tergites III���V and all sternites. Pubescence very short and sparse, hardly visible on the body. Colour black throughout. Paratype gynes (n=12). HL 1.76���1.99, HW 1.49���1.72, CI 82���88, SL 1.81���2.13, SI 116���128, FW 0.42���0.50, FI 28���30, ScW 1.73���2.05, MnL 2.13���2.63, WL 2.93���3.50, HTL 1.85���2.21, Anterior wing length 8.1-9.3. With the usual caste differences from the worker and with weakly convex eyes. Wings moderately infuscated. Paratype male. HL 1.24, HW 1.10, CI 89, SL 1.40, SI 127, ScW 1.53, MnL 2.16, WL 2.87, HTL 1.95. (I confidently assign to this taxon a single male collected together with several gynes in Yemen). Mandibles narrow, almost unarmed, with a short masticatory margin bearing a blunt apical cleft tooth and 1 or 2 minute blunt denticles. Anterior clypeal margin entire, evenly convex. Head round with relatively small eyes (maximum eye length: 0.47), Ocelli well developed: MOD (mid-ocellus diameter): 0.18; distance between mid ocellus and each lateral one Paratype workers (n=10). HL 1.56���1.80, HW 1.39���1.64, CI 88���92, SL 1.68���2.00, SI 118���127, FW 0.35���0.44, FI 25���28, PW 1.20���1.56, WL 1.90���2.32, HTL 1.56���1.98. Mostly consistent with the holotype, but with some minute variations. Eyes more or less slightly convex, metanotal suture sometimes completely lacking dorsally, and median lobe of propodeum reduced to a low convexity. Holotype worker. SOMALIA: Balad, 28.ix.1986 (L. Bartolozzi) (MSNM). Paratypes. YEMEN: Sokna (Tihama), m 200, 20.viii.1965 (G. Scortecci) (17 g, 1 m, MSNM). ETHIOPIA: ���da Dim�� al Bass Narok���, viii���ix.1896 (Bottego) (1 g, MSNG) [misidentified by Emery (1899) as P. viscosa]; Banno, Sagan-Omo, 10.v.1939 (E. Zavattari) (1 w, MSNG); Caschei, Sagan-Omo, 6.vii.1939 (E. Zavattari) (3 g, MSNG). SOMALIA: ���M. Umberto I���, iii.1892���93 [?] (E. Ruspoli) (1 g, MSNG); Ganana, iii.1892���93 [?] (E. Ruspoli) (2 g, MSNG); ���Boran Galla, Medio Ganale���, vi.1893 (V. Bottego) (1 w, MSNG); ���Basso Ganana���, vii��� viii.1893 (V. Bottego) (3 w, MSNG); Eil (Nogal), iii���iv.1938 (S. Venzo) (2 g, MSNM); Eil (A. Falzoni) (1 g, MSNM); Gardo, 810m, 21.x.1957 (G. Scortecci) (2 g, MSNM); same data, but 22.x.1957 (2 g, MSNM); Afgoi, v.1972 (L. Masutti) (2 g, MSNM); Afgoi, 2.x.1986 (L. Bartolozzi) (1 w, MSNM). KENYA: Mackinnon (30 km ca. N-NW of Mombasa), ix.1946 (Meneghetti) (1 w, 1 g, MSNM); Malindi, xii.1993 (R. Regalin) (3 w, MSNM); Archer���s Post, Uaso Nyiro river, 2300���, 6.xii.1969 (M.E. Irwin & E.S. Ross) (4 g, CAS). Comment. I often found specimens of P. o m i s s a labelled as P. v i s c o s a and mixed with it, but omissa always lacks the distinctive antennal features that separate viscosa from all other African Polyrhachis known so far. Polyrhachis viscosa has a strongly widened apex of the scape and a strongly depressed first funicular joint (see Fig. 22 in Bolton, 1973). This feature is unique to viscosa and seemingly constant. Although I found several gynes assignable to P. omissa collected in Yemen, Collingwood and Agosti (1996) in their survey of Arabian ants mentioned P. v i s c o s a and P. lacteipennis F. Smith only. Polyrhachis lacteipennis superficially recalls viscosa and omissa, but belongs to the non-African subgenus Myrmhopla and has a slender and immarginate mesosoma and other very distinctive features. I also examined the types of P. an t i n or i i Emery, which Bolton (l.c.) did not see and synonymised with P. viscosa. I can confirm that antinorii is conspecific with viscosa; therefore no old available names are assignable to omissa. The main features separating omissa from viscosa workers can be summarized as follows: In addition, most omissa specimens have a few standing setae on the second gastral tergite, while all of the approximetely 20 viscosa specimens I examined have no erect hairs on the second gastral tergite; but this difference might be due to population differences, age or degree of abrasion of specimens. Among the viscosa -group species listed by Bolton only viscosa itself and nigrita share the same arrangement of petiolar spines as in omissa: a long lateral pair, and a much shorter, often tooth-like, dorsal pair. Moreover, nigrita differs from viscosa and omissa especially by its longer propodeal teeth and by the propodeal dorsum evenly rounding into the declivity., Published as part of Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Zootaxa 4088 (1) on pages 34-36, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261854

Polyrhachis regesa Bolton REP. of the CONGO: Niari Region, 2.30757 S 12.82985 E, 660 m, 3.vii.2013, primary forest, canopy fogging (L. Niemand) (5 w, AFRC: LN-RC1 43, 103���106/CASENT0250025���28, CASENT0250034)., Published as part of Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Zootaxa 4088 (1) on page 47, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261854

Polyrhachis gibbula n. sp. (Figures 7 a���c) Diagnosis. A species in the viscosa -group well characterised by its trapezoidal head with bulging eyes, dorsum of head and mesosoma with distinct longitudinal rugulosity and strongly transversely-arched propodeum. Holotype worker. HL 1.49, HW 1.29, CI 87, SL 1.58, SI 122, FW 0.44, FI 34, PW 1.39, WL 1.9, HTL 1.57. Clypeus subcarinate, with an evenly convex anterior margin. Head in full face view subtrapezoidal, wider behind than in front, with distinct, rounded posterior corners and weakly convex posterior margin. Eyes placed posteriorly and strongly bulging. Scapes moderately long. Mesosoma stout; in dorsal view all of its segments distinctly wider than long. In profile mesosoma convex at the level of anterior pronotum and postero-dorsal propodeum, and almost flat medially. Pronotal spines relatively well developed and strong, mostly anteriorly directed. Pronotum and mesonotum transversely evenly and weakly convex; propodeal dorsum humped medially and forming a stronger transverse convexity. Mesosoma distinctly marginate along its sides, the marginations not forming flanges or lobes. Promesonotal and metanotal sutures distinct but not impressed. Propodeal dorsum and declivity separated by a distinct margin. Propodeal teeth small, upturned and sharp. Petiole with four spines, the dorsal pair weakly diverging, directed upward and backward and about twice as long as the lateral pair; in frontal (or posterior) view the space between the dorsal spines almost straight with a very shallow convexity in the middle. First gastral tergite anteriorly concave. Mandibles mostly finely shagreened and with sparse, small piligerous pits. Integument weakly shining, finely reticulate-punctate throughout (including appendages), gaster more superficially so. Dorsum of head and mesosoma with superimposed fine and dense longitudinal rugulation. Mesosoma laterally roughly reticulaterugose. Propodeal declivity superficially finely reticulate. Scattered, thin, yellowish and relatively short standing hairs occur on clypeus, head dorsum (3 pairs from the level of antennal insertions to the vertex), and all gastral tergites and sternites. Pubescence inconspicuous on head and mesosoma, minute and very sparse on the gaster. Colour black, appendages brown; articulations, scapes and coxae darker. Paratype workers (n=2). HL 1.38���1.54, HW 1.27���1.32, CI 86���92, SL 1.48���1.62, SI 117���123, FW 0.45���0.47, FI 34���37, PW 1.17���1.43, WL 1.72���2.0, HTL 1.53���1.59. The Kenyan specimen is very similar to the holotype. The specimen from Tanzania is smaller and with slightly different indices. It also has shorter, toothlike pronotal spines, shorter lateral pair of petiolar spines, a less humped propodeum with a weakly convex margination between dorsum and declivity and almost lacks propodeal teeth; yet all of the remaining features well match those of the Kenyan specimens. Holotype. KENYA: 20 km WSW Malindi, 20 m, 3��18��� S, 39��58��� E, 16.xii.1990 (P.S. Wa rd) # 11167, semideciduous forest, ex dead twig (BMNH). Paratypes. 1 worker with the same data as the holotype (BMNH). Non-type specimens. TANZANIA: Lindi Region, Mbarawala Plateaux, 270 m, 9.03957 S 39.12010 E, 29.ii��� 4.iii.2008, CEPF-TZ-12.1-F50 primary forest, pitfall trap (P. Hawkes, Y Mlacha, F. Ninga) (1 w, AFRC: AntWeb CASENT0235680). Comment. This taxon looks superficially similar to P. gerstaeckeri, but gibbula has a distinctive trapezoidal head, bulging eyes, and well developed dorsal longitudinal rugosity., Published as part of Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Zootaxa 4088 (1) on pages 24-26, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261854

Rigato, Fabrizio (2016): The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 4088 (1), DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1

Polyrhachis spitteleri Forel Polyrhachis spitteleri Forel, 1916: 450, fig. 6. Holotype worker, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC of the CONGO (locality unknown) (H. Kohl) (MHNG) [not seen]. Diagnosis. The monista -group species with hardly impressed promesonotal suture and a tubercoliform prominence between the propodeal spines. I assign to this species a gyne from Central African Rep. It has a weak median prominence between the long propodeal spines as reported for the worker caste (Bolton, 1973). The dorsum of mesosoma is mostly longitudinally rugulose with reticulate-punctate ground sculpture. The remaining of the body is more or less strongly reticulate-punctate and subopaque; mandibles, clypeus and gaster are superficially sculptured and shining. Measurements. HL 1.42, HW 1.30, CI 92, SL 1.43, SI 110, FW 0.55, FI 42, ScW 1.40, MnL 1.65, WL 2.24, HTL 1.68. Material examined. CENTRAL AFRICAN REP.: P.N. Dzanga���Ndoki, 21.4 km 53�� NE Bayanga, 3��02.01���N 16��24.57���E, 510 m, 1���2.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 g, CAS: CASENT0086055, CAR01-M02)., Published as part of Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Zootaxa 4088 (1) on page 39, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261854

Polyrhachis limitis Santschi Polyrhachis alexisi st. limitis Santschi, 1939: 12. Holotype worker, DEMOCRATIC REP. of the CONGO: Pale (G��rard) (NHMB) [examined]. Polyrhachis limitis Santschi: Bolton 1973:350. Diagnosis. An alexisi -group species identifiable by: pronotum and propodeum laterally marginate, petiole quadrispinose, head oval, with moderately convex sides, and eyes somewhat slightly breaking the head outline in full face view. The following data refer to the recently collected second known worker of this species. This Tanzanian specimen differs from the type only by its smaller size; yet I could not detect any significant difference from the type. HL 1.34, HW 1.16, CI 87, SL 1.47, SI 127, FW 0.37, FI 32, PW 1.14, WL 1.66, HTL 1.40. Material examined. 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 09-1253)., Published as part of Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Zootaxa 4088 (1) on page 28, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261854

Polyrhachis kohli Forel Polyrhachis kohli Forel, 1916: 454. Lectotype worker [AntWeb photo: CASENT0910954], two paralectotype worker and one paralectotype gyne (by present designation), DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC of the CONGO (H. Kohl). (MHNG) [examined]. Diagnosis. A hairy, moderately large revoili -group species with immarginate mesosoma, propodeal dorsum distinctly longer than wide, and long and sinuous standing hairs on the appendages. Lectotype worker: HL 1.37, HW 0.99, CI 72, SL 1.74, SI 175, FW 0.37, FI 37, PW 0.88, WL 1.87���, HTL 1.70. Clypeus with relatively narrow protruding rectangular anterior lobe at its anterior margin. Head in full face view elongate oval, with anteriorly converging sides and convex posterior margin. Eyes moderately large and protruding. Mesosoma slender, fully immarginate, both transversely and longitudinally convex. In dorsal view, pro- and mesonotum look weakly transverse and the propodeum twice as long as wide, when considering as a reference width the outer ends of the propodeal ridges. In profile, propodeal dorsum a little longer than the declivity. Pronotal teeth small, their anterior edge almost perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body. Propodeal dorsum and declivity separated by two moderately developed ridges, leaving a narrow gap between them; the gap is slightly narrower than each ridge. Promesonotal and metanotal sutures weak. Petiole with a dorsal pair of moderately long, diverging spines and a lateral pair of small sharp teeth; the dorsal margin of the petiole almost straight and about 1.5 times as long as each spine. First gastral tergite anteriorly concave. Mandibles weakly sculptured: proximally subopaque and shagreened and becoming apically smoother. Clypeus superficially reticulate. Head dorsum mostly irregularly longitudinally rugulose. Mesosoma and petiole reticulate-punctate, mesosomal dorsum with a more or less developed superimposed longitudinal rugulation. Appendages finely reticulate-punctate. Gaster finely reticulate and weakly shining. Standing hairs fine, abundant and mostly pale and flexuous throughout. Longest hairs on tibiae approaching the maximum tibial width; longest hairs on scapes about thrice as long as the scape diameter. Pubescence whitish, moderately long and dense on most body surfaces, but never hiding sculpturation. Body black, mandibles brown, becoming almost testaceous apically. Legs mostly piceous, with tibiae, except basally, and apical tarsal segments ferrugineous. Antennae with mostly piceous scape; funiculus ferrugineous, except the darkened base of its basalmost 4-5 joints. Paralectotype workers (n=2): HL 1.28���1.40, HW 0.94���1.02, CI 73, SL 1.65���1.70, SI 167���176, FW 0.35���0.37, FI 36���37, PW 0.83���0.87, WL 1.76���1.83, HTL 1.43���1.62. Paralectotype gyne: HL 1.63, HW 1.15, CI 71, SL 2.05, SI 178, FW 0.42, FI 37, ScW 1.45, MnL 1.87, WL 2.63, HTL 2.05. Comment. Bolton���s description (1973) of P. volkarti must be referred to kohli. The latter is a valid species and not a synonym of P. v o l k ar t i Forel as proposed by Bolton (1973). The main distinctive features of gynes (P. v o l k ar t i was described on a single gyne only) are as follows: Polyrhachis kohli (paralectotype gyne) Polyrhachis volkarti (type gyne) Standing hairs longer and often sinuous. Length of longest Standing hairs shorter, straight to uniformly curved. Length of standing hairs on extensor tibial surface approaching the tibial longest standing hairs on extensor tibial surface at most width at midlength. Scutum and scapes with long, flexuous approaching half of the tibial width at midlength. Scutum and hairs, often more than twice as long as scape diameter. scapes with relatively short and straight hairs, at most about 1.5 as long as scape diameter. Propodeal ridges much closer to one another, they are Propodeal ridges widely separated, the space between them separated by a space slightly larger than the length of a single much larger than the length of a single ridge. The distance ridge. The distance between ridges��� outer ends is less that the between ridges��� outer ends is larger than the length of the length of the propodeal dorsum. propodeal dorsum. In profile, propodeal dorsum about as long as the declivity. In profile, propodeal dorsum distinctly shorter than the declivity. The three workers of the type series of P. kohli are evidently conspecific with the gyne and their propodea appear unusually narrow and elongate in dorsal view when compared to similar species (see also under submarginata)., Published as part of Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Zootaxa 4088 (1) on pages 26-27, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261854

Polyrhachis volkarti Forel Polyrhachis revoili st. volkarti Forel, 1916: 453. Holotype gyne, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC of the CONGO (H. Kohl). (MHNG) [examined]. [AntWeb photo: CASENT0910957] Diagnosis. A medium sized revoili -group species with lobed clypeus, immarginate mesosoma (at most the pronotum bears a trace of lateral margination), and propodeal dorsum wider than long. Holotype gyne. HL 1.50, HW 1.15, CI 77, SL 1.95, SI 170, FW 0.41, FI 36, MnL 1.78, ScW 1.45, WL 2.52, HTL 1.97. Clypeus bearing a slightly protruding rectangular lobe at its anterior margin. Head in full face view oval, wider behind than in front, posterior margin evenly convex without distinct posterior corners; sides in front of the eyes straight. Eyes relatively large and convex. Ocelli small. Pronotal and propodeal sides immarginate. Pronotal teeth small and robust. Propodeal dorsum distinctly wider than long, arched both longitudinally and transversely. Propodeal ridges small and far apart, between them the propodeal dorsum smoothly merges into the declivity. Petiole with a mid pair of diverging and slightly backward bent spines, whose reciprocal distance is about twice the length of each spine, and a pair of much shorter lateral teeth raising near the bases of the spines. First gastral tergite anteriorly weakly concave. Mandibles mostly smooth and shining, weakly shagreened at their insertion. Body and appendages finely reticulate-punctate; sculpturation stronger on the opaque head and mesosoma. Cephalic dorsum, except clypeus, with a superimposed longitudinal fine rugulation. The whole body and appendages with fairly abundant standing hairs; longest hairs occur on scutellum and cephalic dorsum. Hairs on tibiae short, at most as long as maximum tibial width; hairs on scapes at most 1.5 as long as the maximum scape diameter. Pubescence whitish, moderately long and abundant throughout the body, but never hiding the sculpturation; on the gaster the distance between two adjacent elements is about equal to their length. Colour mostly black, tibiae dark brown, tarsi apically partially ferrugineous. Funiculi mostly ferrugineous, except the 4 basalmost joints, which are basally darkened. Mandibles apically ferrugineous. Worker. I assign to this species a series of workers from the Republic of the Congo (n=5). HL 1.36���1.45, HW 1.11���1.16, CI 80���83, SL 1.74���1.85, SI 151���162, FW 0.40���0.41, FI 35���37, PW 1.00���1.06, WL 1.87���1.99, HTL 1.70���1.81. They look conspecific with the holotype gyne in all main features, even if sometimes an ill-defined trace of pronotal margination appears anteriorly behind the pronotal teeth. Comment. The P. v o l k ar t i gyne looks very similar to the P. kohli gyne, except for the significant differences concerning pilosity and propodeum summarized under kohli. The workers I assigned to volkarti have pilosity and propodeal proportions highly comparable to those of the holotype gyne; yet further discoveries could demonstrate such workers to belong to a still undescribed species. Material examined. REP. of the CONGO: Niari Region, 2.30339S 12.83902E, 705 m, 3.vii.2013, primary forest, canopy fogging, (L. Niemand) (5 w, AFRC: LN RC1 42, 90���93/CASENT0250012���15, CASENT0250031)., Published as part of Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Zootaxa 4088 (1) on page 44, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261854

Polyrhachis otleti Forel Polyrhachis otleti Forel, 1916: 449. Syntype workers, gyne and male, DEM. REP. of the CONGO: St. Gabriel (H. Kohl) (MHNG) [examined]. Diagnosis. A hairy, moderately large revoili -group species with marginate pronotum and propodeal dorsum delimited posteriorly by a pair of well developed ridges. Two workers from CAS collection are very similar to the types, but have a shining gaster (subopaque in types), due to more superficial sculpturation and much sparser gastral pubescence. The distance between adjacent pubescence elements is much larger than their length; while in types gastral pubescence is much denser (the distance between adjacent hairlets is shorter than their length). Because of the paucity of available material and variability of these features in other Polyrhachis, I consider all of them as conspecific. Measurements (n=6: 4 syntype workers + 2 workers from CAS). HL 1.40���1.68, HW 1.19���1.39, CI 81���86, SL 1.68���1.98, SI 140���146, FW 0.47���0.51, FI 36���39, PW 1.07���1.29, WL 1.84���2.25, HTL 1.67���2.00. Material examined. (except types). CENTRAL AFRICAN REP.: Res. Dzanga���Sangha, 12.7 km, 326�� NW Bayanga, 3��00.27��� N 16��11.55��� E, 420 m, 10���11.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0087178, CAR01- M88); Res. Dzanga���Sangha, 12.7 km, 326�� NW Bayanga, 3��00.27��� N 16��11.55��� E, 420 m, 11���12.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0087978, CAR01-M99)., Published as part of Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Zootaxa 4088 (1) on pages 36-37, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261854

Polyrhachis militaris (Fabricius) (Figures 10 a���c) Formica militaris Fabricius, 1782: 493. Holotype gyne, ���Tropical Africa��� (BMNH) [not seen] Polyrhachis militaris (Fabricius); F. Smith, 1858: 72, pl. 3, fig. 5 and pl. 4, fig. 35. [Combination in Polyrhachis] Polyrhachis militaris subsp. cupreopubescens Forel, 1879: 120. Holotype gyne, ���Tropical Africa��� (Sauss) (MHNG) [not seen]. [Synonymy by Bolton, 1973: 313] Polyrhachis militaris subsp. striativentris Emery, 1892: 566. Syntype workers, IVORY COAST: Assinie (Ch. Alluaud) (MSNG) [not seen]. [Synonymy by Bolton, 1973: 313] Polyrhachis militaris subsp. cupreopubescens var. transversaria Forel, 1901: 77. Holotype gyne, LIBERIA (Hadler) (MHNG) [not seen]. [Unavailable name, referred to militaris by Bolton, 1973: 313] Polyrhachis militaris var. calabarica Forel, 1907: 38. Syntype workers, NIGERIA: Old Calabar, vi.1892 (Luke) (MHNG) [examined]. [Synonymy by Bolton, 1973: 313] Polyrhachis militaris var. ssibangensis Forel, 1907: 38. Holotype worker, GABON: Ssibange (Soyaux) (MHNG) [examined]. [Synonymy by Bolton, 1973: 313] Polyrhachis militaris subsp. cupreopubescens var. argentatus Stitz, 1910: 150. Syntype workers, CAMEROUN: Bibundi (Tessmann) (MNHU) [not seen]. [Unavailable name, referred to militaris by Bolton, 1973: 313] Polyrhachis militaris subsp. bruta Santschi, 1912: 166. Holotype gyne, ���CONGO��� (Bondroit) (NHMB) [not seen]. [Synonymy by Bolton, 1973: 313] Polyrhachis militaris subsp. cupreopubescens var. sankisiana Forel, 1913b: 348. Syntype workers, DEM. REP. of the CONGO: Katanga, Sankisia, (J. Bequaert) (MHNG) [examined]. [Unavailable name, referred to militaris by Bolton, 1973: 313] Polyrhachis militaris subsp. cupreopubescens var. dido Wheeler, 1922: 261. [Proposed as a replacement name for Polyrhachis militaris subsp. cupreopubescens var. argentatus Stitz, preoccupied by Polyrhachis argentatus F.Smith, 1858]. [Unavailable name, referred to militaris by Bolton, 1973: 313] Polyrhachis militaris var. nkomoensis Santschi, 1924: 222. [First available use of Polyrhachis militaris subsp. cupreopubescens var. nkomoensis Forel, 1916: 447. Syntype workers, gynes and males, DEM. REP. of the CONGO (H. Kohl) (MHNG) [not seen]. (Unavailable name, referred to militaris in Bolton, 1973: 313)]. [Junior synonym of militaris by Dorow, 1995: 37] Polyrhachis militaris subsp. cupreopubescens var. pleurata Santschi, 1924: 223. Syntype workers, DEM. REP. of the CONGO: Yambata (di Giorgi) (NHMB) [not seen]. [Unavailable name, referred to militaris by Bolton, 1973: 313] Diagnosis. A large member of the militaris- group with a somewhat rectangular head, hairy body and appendages, and long, usually at least partially golden pubescence, which hides most of the body sculpture. As militaris measurements provided by Bolton (1973) included epinotalis, I give the following measurements obtained from ���true��� militaris workers: HL 2.37���3.24, HW 1.76���2.51, CI 70���80, SL 3.08���3.92, SI 152���176, FW 0.63���0.82, FI 31���37, PW 1.52���2.32, WL 3.37���4.45, HTL 3.40���4.60. (n=32) Comment. The head of Polyrhachis militaris (and doudou n. sp. as well, see above) is subrectangular and clearly different from the rounded outline of similar species, i.e. epinotalis, gagates, medusa and schistacea. These species have a more or less elongate, oval or suboval head, mostly with a widely convex posterior margin and usually (except most epinotalis) the head is slightly wider behind than in front of the eyes. Moreover, militaris and doudou have a blunt margination behind each eye delimiting head dorsum from the sides. Material examined. GUINEA-BISSAU: Rio Cassine, xii.1899���iv.1900 (L. Fea) (31 w, MSNG). EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Bioko [= Fernando Poo Island], Basil��, 400���600 m, viii���ix.1901 (L. Fea) (14 g, 17 m, 18 w, MSNG); Bioko [= Fernando Poo Island], Punta Frailes, x���xi.1901 (L. Fea) (8 g, 5 w, MSNG); Bioko [= Fernando Poo Island], Musola, 500���800 m, i���iii.1902 (L. Fea) (2 w, MSNG); Bioko [= Fernando Poo Island], Musola, 500���800 m, iii.1902 (L. Fea) (2 w, MSNG); Bioko, road to Pico Basile, 1700 m, 3��37���38���N 8��48���15���E, 27���29.ix.1998 (D. Ubick et al.) (3 g, CAS); Bioko, Moka Malabo, 3��21���46���N 8��39���52���E, ca. 1400 m, 6.x.1998 (D. Ubick & D.K. Dabney) (1 w, 1 g, CAS); Bioko, Moka, 1300 m, 3��21���36���N 8��39���49���E, 1���11.x.1998 (D. Ubick et al.) (6 g, CAS); Bioko, 3.5 km N Luba, 3��28���54���N 8��34���58���E, 13.x.1998, swampy forest (D. Ubick et al.) (2 g, CAS); GABON: Fernand-Vaz, ix���x.1902 (L. Fea) (11 w, MSNG); Lambarene, xi���xii.1902 (L. Fea) (2 g, MSNG); Ndjol��, xi���xii.1902 (L. Fea) (1g, 4 w, MSNG); Nkogo, xi���xii.1902 (L. Fea) (1 w, MSNG); Port Gentil, 12.vii.1957 (E.S. Ross & B.E. Leech) (1 w, CAS); Prov. Ogoov��-Maritime, R��serve des Monts Doudou, 25.2 km 304�� NW Doussala, 2��13.63���S 10��23.67���E, 600 m, 15.iii.2000 (S. van Noort), sweep, coastal lowland rainforest, undergrowth, low canopy in forest (2 w, CAS: GA00S100-6, GA00S106-1). DEM. REP. of the CONGO: 39 km S of Walikale, 700 m, 25.xii.1957 (E.S. Ross & B.E. Leech) (5 w, CAS); 27 mi. SE of Kienge, 22.i.1958 (E.S. Ross & B.E. Leech) (1 w, CAS); N. Shaba, Mbalula, 23.x.1980 (W.H. Whitcomb) (1 w, HLMD). CENTRAL AFRICAN REP.: P.N. Dzanga-Ndoki, 21.4 km 53�� NE Bayanga, 3��02.01���N 16��24.57 E, 510 m, 1���7.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (9 w, CAS: CASENT0093758 CAR01-Y01, CASENT0093763 CAR01-Y02, CASENT0093787 CAR01-Y04, CASENT0093803 CAR01-Y06, CASENT0093809 CAR01-Y07, CASENT0093830 CAR01-Y09, CASENT0093840 CAR01-Y10, CASENT0093926 CAR01-Y21, CASENT0093948 CAR01-Y24); P.N. Dzanga- Ndoki, 21.4 km 53�� NE Bayanga, 3��02.01���N 16��24.57 E, 510 m, 1���2.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0085828 CAR01-M06); P.N. Dzanga-Ndoki, 21.4 km 53�� NE Bayanga, 3��02.01���N 16��24.57 E, 510 m, 4.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0085991 CAR01-S12); P.N. Dzanga-Ndoki, 21.4 km 53�� NE Bayanga, 3��02.01���N 16��24.57 E, 510 m, 5���6.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0086866 CAR01-M49); Res. Dzanga-Sangha, 12.7 km 326�� NW Bayanga, 3��00���N 16��12���E, 420 m, 10���17.v.2001 #4083 (B.L. Fisher) (2 w, CAS: CASENT0008084); Res. Dzanga-Sangha, 12.7 km 326�� NW Bayanga, 3��00���N 16��12���E, 420 m, 10��� 17.v.2001 #4084 (B.L. Fisher) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0009150); Res. Dzanga-Sangha, 12.7 km 326�� NW Bayanga, 3��00.27���N 16��11.55���E, 420 m, 11���17.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (7 w, CAS: CASENT0093971 CAR01-Y26, CASENT0093982 CAR01-Y27, CASENT0094018 CAR01-Y30, CASENT0094037 CAR01-Y31, CASENT0094043 CAR01-Y32, CASENT0094199 CAR01-Y47, CASENT0094215 CAR01-Y50); Res. Dzanga- Sangha, 12.7 km 326�� NW Bayanga, 3��00.27���N 16��11.55���E, 420 m, 11���12.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0086092 CAR01-M192); 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: CASENT0089902 CAR01-S126); Res. Dzanga-Sangha, 12.7 km 326�� NW Bayanga, 3��00.27���N 16��11.55���E, 420 m, 12���13.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0087984 CAR01- M100); Res. Dzanga-Sangha, 12.7 km 326�� NW Bayanga, 3��00.27���N 16��11.55���E, 420 m, 13.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (2 w, CAS: CASENT0091105 CAR01-S156, CASENT0091208 CAR01-S165); Res. Dzanga-Sangha, 12.7 km 326�� NW Bayanga, 3��00.27���N 16��11.55���E, 420 m, 13���14.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0088321 CAR01-M112); Res. Dzanga-Sangha, 12.7 km 326�� NW Bayanga, 3��00.27���N 16��11.55���E, 420 m, 14���15.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0088748 CAR01-M123); 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: CASENT0087645 CAR01-M141); 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) (2 w, CAS: CASENT0087754 CAR01-M146, CASENT0087516 CAR01-M152); P.N. Dzanga-Ndoki, 38.6 km 173�� S Lidjombo, 2��21.60���N 16��03.20���E, 350 m, 21���27.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (15 w, CAS: CASENT0094223 CAR01- Y51, CASENT0094235 CAR01-Y52, CASENT0094252 CAR01-Y53, CASENT0094260 CAR01-Y54, CASENT0094279 CAR01-Y56, CASENT0094295 CAR01-Y57, CASENT0094346 CAR01-Y62, CASENT0094355 CAR01-Y63, CASENT0094360 CAR01-Y64, CASENT0094371 CAR01-Y65, CASENT0094384 CAR01-Y66, CASENT0094406 CAR01-Y68, CASENT0094420 CAR01-Y69, CASENT0094443 CAR01-Y71, CASENT0094482 CAR01-Y75); P.N. Dzanga-Ndoki, 38.6 km 173�� S Lidjombo, 2��22���N 16��03���E, 350 m, 20���28.v.2001 (B.L.Fisher) (3 w, CAS: #4125 CASENT0009213���15; 4 w, CAS: #4126 CASENT0008085���86); P.N. Dzanga-Ndoki, 38.6 km 173�� S Lidjombo, 2��21.60���N 16��03.20���E, 350 m, 20��� 21.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (4 w, CAS: CASENT0087592 CAR01-M156, CASENT0087616 CAR01-M157, CASENT0087618 CAR01-M158, CASENT0087429 CAR01-M165); P.N. Dzanga-Ndoki, 38.6 km 173�� S Lidjombo, 2��21.60���N 16��03.20���E, 350 m, 21���22.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (3 w, CAS: CASENT0087471 CAR01- M168, CASENT0086505 CAR01-M172, CASENT0086545 CAR01-M174); 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 g, 4 w, CAS: CASENT0092197 CAR01- S200, CASENT0092344 CAR01-S212, CASENT0092387 CAR01-S215, CASENT0092725 CAR01-S238, CASENT0092757 CAR01-S240); P.N. Dzanga-Ndoki, 38.6 km 173�� S Lidjombo, 2��21.60���N 16��03.20���E, 350 m, 22���23.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (2 w, CAS: CASENT0086341 CAR01-M184, CASENT0086387 CAR01-M187); P.N. Dzanga-Ndoki, 38.6 km 173�� S Lidjombo, 2��21.60���N 16��03.20���E, 350 m, 23.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (2 w, CAS: CASENT0093738 CAR01-S263, CASENT0093448 CAR01-S277); P.N. Dzanga-Ndoki, 38.6 km 173�� S Lidjombo, 2��21.60���N 16��03.20���E, 350 m, 24���25.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (3 w, CAS: CASENT0086229 CAR01- M200, CASENT0088066 CAR01-M205, CASENT0088102 CAR01-M209); P.N. Dzanga-Ndoki, 38.6 km 173�� S Lidjombo, 2��21.60���N 16��03.20���E, 350 m, 25.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (6 w, CAS: CASENT0094975 CAR01-S283, CASENT0095042 CAR01-S285, CASENT0094511 CAR01-S288, CASENT0094555 CAR01-S291, CASENT0094625 CAR01-S297, CASENT0093126 CAR01-S300); P.N. Dzanga-Ndoki, 38.6 km 173�� S Lidjombo, 2��21.60���N 16��03.20���E, 350 m, 25���26.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0088164 CAR01- M220); P.N. Dzanga-Ndoki, 38.6 km 173�� S Lidjombo, 2��21.60���N 16��03.20���E, 350 m, 26���27.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (2 w, CAS: CASENT0088224 CAR01-M224, CASENT0088273 CAR01-M228). UGANDA: Budongo Forest Reserve, 1.75��N 31.5833��E, 900 m, 30.vi.2004 (M. Peters) (HLMD); Kibale National Park, Kanyawara Biological Station, 0.56437��N 30.36059��E, ��300 m 1510 m, 6���16.viii.2012, rainforest (F. Hita Garcia) (HLMD); Entebbe, Entebbe Botanical Gardens, 0��03���52.61���N 32��28���40.50���E, 1143 m, 17���22.viii.2012, on tree (F. Hita Garcia) (HLMD). TANZANIA: Amani, 850 m, 9.xi.1957 (E.S. Ross & B.E. Leech) (1 g, 2 w, CAS); Tanga, E Usambara Mtns., Amani, 900���1000 m, 28.x���9.xi.1995 (D. Ubick) (1 g, CAS); Amani Hills, 23���24.vi.2001, ANTC1275 (D. Quick) (1 g, 6 w, CAS: CASENT0007990���93). ZAMBIA: 5 mi. N of Kapiri Mposhi, 9.ii.1958 (E.S. Ross & B.E. Leech) (1 w, CAS)., Published as part of Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Zootaxa 4088 (1) on pages 31-33, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261854

Polyrhachis concava Andr�� IVORY COAST: Abidjan, 17.vi.1958 (E.S. Ross & R.E. Leech) (1 g, 1 w, CAS). EQUAT. GUINEA: Fernando Poo [currently Bioko], Punta Frailes, x���xi.1901 (L. Fea) (1 w, MSNG). CENTRAL AFRICAN REP.: P.N. Dzanga���Ndoki, 21.4 km 53�� NE Bayanga, 3��02.01���N 16��24.57���E, 510 m, 6.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0089415 CAR01-S49); 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 g, CAS: CASENT0088637 CAR01-M135); P.N. Dzanga���Ndoki, 38.6 km 173�� S Lidjombo, 2��21.60���N 16��03.20���E, 350 m, 21���27.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0094433 CAR01- Y70); 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) (5 w, CAS: CASENT0092209 CAR01-S201, CASENT0092238 CAR01-S203, CASENT0092328 CAR01-S210, CASENT0092336 CAR01-S211, CASENT0092571 CAR01-S229); P.N. Dzanga���Ndoki, 38.6 km 173�� S Lidjombo, 2��21.60���N 16��03.20���E, 350 m, 22���23.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0086392 CAR01- M187)., Published as part of Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Zootaxa 4088 (1) on page 46, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261854

Polyrhachis wilmsi Forel stat. n. Polyrhachis cubaensis subsp. wilmsi Forel, 1910b: 30. Holotype worker, MOZAMBIQUE: Lobombo Borges (F. Wilms) [not seen, not at MHNG]. [Junior synonym of P. cubaensis Mayr: Bolton 1973:325.] Diagnosis. A viscosa -group species with standing hairs on frons and vertex, four similarly long petiolar spines, and a well developed median prominence along the ridge separating propodeal dorsum and declivity. Comment. The type of P. cubaensis subsp. wilmsi has not been found in the MHNG collection, where it should have been preserved. Therefore, my interpretation of this taxon is based on the original description and a comparison with some more recently collected material. Forel (1910b) briefly described Polyrhachis cubaensis subsp. wilmsi mentioning this important feature: a median triangular tooth (���dreieckigen Zahn���) on the ridge running between the propodeal spines (���Dornen��� and not ���Z��hnen��� as pointed out by Forel himself). Such a condition exactly matches the Bolton (1973) description of ��� P. cubaensis ���. In addition, Forel (1910b) stated that wilmsi was 6.5 mm long and had a well developed longitudinal rugosity on head and mesosoma. All of these features correspond to Bolton���s cubaensis as well, and not to gerstaeckeri (see under this species), whose full size was reported as 5.4 mm. As no other African Polyrhachis seems to share wilmsi ���s main features, I think that, in absence of the type, the best way to interpret any specimen with the above mentioned characters is to name them as P. wilmsi. Bolton (1973) based his description of cubaensis on some South African specimens I could examine and which are very similar to some Somalian specimens at MSNM. All of them well fit Bolton���s description, except that the Somalian specimens are slightly smaller, have a lower SI, and lack proximal hairs on the clypeal dorsum (a few ones occur in South African specimens) and on tergites II-III. South African and Somalian specimens look inseparable on the basis of all main features: head shape, mesosomal shape and proportions, propodeal spines and ridge, petiolar structure, sculpturation, pubescence length and density, and I consider them as conspecific. The measurements below refer to Somalian specimens for comparison with South African ones already given by Bolton (1973) (n=3). HL 1.70���1.72, HW 1.52���1.53, CI 89, SL 1.58���1.62, SI 104���106, FW 0.52���0.54, FI 34���36, PW 1.27���1.30, WL 2.08���2.18, HTL 1.70���1.76. Material examined: SOMALIA: Mogadiscio, Afgoi, 22.iv���5.v.1984 (R. Mourglia) (3 w, MSNM). SOUTH AFRICA: Zululand (G. Arnold) (2 w, BMNH)., Published as part of Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Zootaxa 4088 (1) on page 46, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261854

Polyrhachis decellei Bolton Polyrhachis decellei Bolton, 1973: 349, figs. 46, 54. Holotype worker, GHANA: eastern region, Begoro, 10.vi.1968 (C.A. Collingwood) (BMNH) [not seen]. Diagnosis. A medium sized militaris -group species with mesosoma lacking standing hairs, but coated with long, dense pubescence, which is distinctly longer than on head and gaster, and with a pair of long standing hairs on the head vertex, and, in profile, relatively small and round eyes. A single worker from CAS matches the original description and drawings. HL 1.63, HW 1.13, CI 69, SL 1.97, SI 174, FW 0.40, FI 35, PW 1.08, ML 2.18, HTL 2.08. Material examined. CENTRAL AFRICAN REP., 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: CASENT0092432 CAR01-S218)., Published as part of Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Zootaxa 4088 (1) on page 14, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261854

Polyrhachis latispina Emery EQUAT. GUINEA: Fernando Poo [currently Bioko], Musola, 500-800 m, i���iii.1902 (L. Fea) (1 w, MSNG). CAMEROUN: Ottotomo (A. Dejean) (1 w, BMNH). CENTRAL AFRICAN REP.: P.N. Dzanga���Ndoki, 38.6 km 173�� S Lidjombo, 2��22���N 16��03���E, 350 m, 20���28.v.2001 #4125 (B.L. Fisher) (2 w, CAS: CASENT0009201, CASENT0009212). UGANDA: Kibale Forest N.P., Kanyawara Makerere University Biological Field Station, viii.2002 (D. Quicke & N. Laurenne) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0094704 ANTC2665). KENYA: Busumbuli, Kakamega Forest, 0.27��N 34.88��E, 1600 m, ix���x.2002, T.n. #136, fogging ex Teclea nobilis (W. Freund) (1 w, HLMD); Kakamega Distr., Isecheno, Kakamega Forest, 0.24��N 34.86��E, 1600 m, 25.iii.2003, #03-026, equatorial rainforest: ex dead, hollow vine (R.R. Snelling) (2 w, HLMD); Western Province, Kakamega Forest, Salesar, 0��19���36���N 34��52���15���E, 1650 m, primary forest, 4.vii.2009, handcoll. (G. F i s c h e r) (1 w, HLMD). TANZANIA: Amani, 5��06���S 38��38���E, 950 m, 20.xii.1990, rainforest edge ex dead twig (P.S. Wa rd) (1 w, CAS)., Published as part of Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Zootaxa 4088 (1) on page 47, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261854

Polyrhachis lestoni Bolton Polyrhachis lestoni Bolton, 1973: 349, figs. 48, 61. Holotype worker, GHANA: eastern region, Mt. Atewa, primary forest, by pyrethrum knock-down, sample A5/1, 12.vii.1969 (D. Leston) (BMNH) [not seen; Antweb pictures under the code CASENT0903459]. Diagnosis. An easily recognizable alexisi- group species, whose petiole is armed just with a pair of lateral teeth. This species was known from Ghana only. Yet, some recently collected material strongly increases its known range. It must be pointed out that the weak transverse ridge separating the propodeal dorsum from declivity may be virtually absent in some specimens. In such cases dorsum and declivity are differently sculptured: the dorsum is longitudinally, posteriorly convergently striolate, the declivity superficially reticulate-punctate. HL 1.25���1.35, HW 1.12���1.19, CI 86���90, SL 1.28���1.35, SI 112���121, FW 0.29���0.34, FI 26���30, PW 1.08���1.11, WL 1.45���1.60, HTL 1.19���1.30. (n=6) Material examined. CENTRAL AFRICAN REP., P.N. Dzanga���Ndoki, 21.4 km 53�� NE Bayanga, 3��02,01���N 16��24.57���E, 510 m, 4.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0088927 CAR01-S15). REP. of the CONGO: Niari Region, 2.30757 S 12.82985 E, 660 m, 3.vii.2013, primary forest, canopy fogging (L. Niemand) (3 w, AFRC: LN-RC1-087, -088, -034; CASENT0250009, -10, -30); Niari Region, 2.30921 S 12.82224 E, 754 m, 4.vii.2013, primary forest, canopy fogging (L. Niemand) (1 w, AFRC: LN-RC1-089 CASENT0250011). KENYA: Kakamega Distr., Yala, Kakamega Forest, 0.10��N 34.52��E, 1600 m, x.2002, T. n. # 127, fogging Teclea nobilis (W. Freund) (1 w, HLMD: M 00023); Busumbuli, Kakamega Forest, 0.27��N 34.88��E, 1600 m, i.2003, T. n. # 135, fogging ex Teclea nobilis (W. Freund) (2 w, HLMD: M 0 0 162, M 00878)., Published as part of Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Zootaxa 4088 (1) on pages 27-28, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261854

Polyrhachis doudou n. sp. (Figures 2 a���c) Diagnosis. A moderately large species in the militaris -group, with somewhat rectangular head, appendages without standing hairs, and moderately abundant short greyish pubescence. Holotype worker. HL 2.14, HW 1.60, CI 75, SL 2.93, SI 183, FW 0.55, FI 34, PW 1.43, WL 3.03, HTL 2.93. Clypeus faintly carinate medially, anterior clypeal margin evenly convex. Head in full face view subrectangular with weakly convex sides, broadly rounded posterior corners and slightly medially protruding occiput. Eyes moderately convex, placed relatively posteriorly; behind each eye a very blunt margination separates the head dorsum from the side. Scapes long and thin. Mesosoma moderately stout, in profile forming a broad curvature interrupted at the sutures, of which the metanotal one is the most impressed; all mesosoma segments look flat transversely. Mesonotum twice as wide as long, propodeal dorsum as wide as long. In profile, propodeal dorsum and declivity similar in length. Pronotal spines long, moderately anteriorly divergent and thin. Mesosoma distinctly marginate along its sides, the marginations mostly forming narrow flanges interrupted at the sutures. Propodeal dorsum and declivity separated by a sudden change of sculpturation. Propodeal teeth small and upturned. Petiole bearing a mid pair of long, erect, well separated and moderately divergent spines, and a lateral pair of small sharp teeth, close to the base of the spines. In frontal view petiole flat between the spines. First gastral tergite anteriorly shallowly concave. Mandibles finely longitudinally striolate and with sparse, small piligerous pits. Clypeus finely reticulatepunctate with sparse rough puncturation giving a scabrous appearance, especially laterally. Most of head dorsum and mesosoma, including the sides, finely and almost regularly longitudinally rugulose, with a finely reticulatepunctate ground sculpture. Propodeal declivity finely reticulate-imbricate. Petiole, gaster and appendages finely reticulate-punctate. The whole body looks dull and with a cinder-like reflection. Standing, yellowish/whitish hairs moderately abundant and long on the occiput, dorsum of mesosoma and gaster; shorter and more scattered hairs on frons and clypeus. Head sides in front of the eyes, ventral head surface, petiole and appendages without standing hairs, the whole body and appendages covered with relatively dense, but short, whitish pubescence; longer on mesosomal sides and petiole; denser and shorter on gaster and, especially, appendages. Colour black throughout, including mandibles, funiculi and tarsi. Paratype workers (n=2). HL 2.21���2.29, HW 1.63���1.70, CI 74, SL 2.93���2.97, SI 172���182, FW 0.55���0.56, FI 33���34, PW 1.40���1.52, WL 3.00���3.17, HTL 2.98���3.07. Not significantly different from the holotype. Holotype worker. GABON: Prov. Ogoov��-Maritime, R��serve des Monts Doudou, 25.2 km 304�� NW Doussala, 2��13.63���S 10��23.67���E, 600 m, 15.iii.2000 (S. van Noort), sweep, coastal lowland rainforest, undergrowth, low canopy in forest (CAS: GA00 S104-1). Paratypes. same data as the holotype (1 w, CAS: GA00 S103-1); GABON: Prov. Ogoov��-Maritime, R��serve des Monts Doudou, 24.3 km 307�� NW Doussala, 2��13.35���S 10��24.35���E, 370 m, 10.iii.2000 (S. van Noort), sweep, coastal lowland rainforest, undergrowth, low canopy in forest (1 w, CAS: GA00 S83-9). Comment. Polyrhachis doudou shares with militaris the subrectangular head outline in full face view. In addition, P. doudou recalls the less brightly coloured militaris specimens coated with short pubescence, and main differences between doudou and militaris are summarized in the key. Because of its size and colour P. doudou looks similar to schistacea, but the latter has hairy appendages, rounded head and, usually, a lower SI., Published as part of Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Zootaxa 4088 (1) on pages 14-16, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261854

Polyrhachis weissi Santschi Polyrhachis weissi Santschi, 1910: 395. Holotype worker, CONGO: Brazzaville (A. Weiss) (NHMB). Polyrhachis natalensis Santschi, 1914: 41. Syntype workers, SOUTH AFRICA: Natal, Stamford Hill, 25.i.1905 (NHMB). Syn. n. Polyrhachis revoili var. conduensis Forel, 1915: 351. Syntype workers, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC of the CONGO: Kasai, Kondue (E. Luja) (MHNG) [synonymy by Bolton, 1973: 342]. Polyrhachis revoili var. donisthorpei Forel, 1916: 453. Syntype workers, NORTH RHODESIA [= ZAMBIA] (MHNG) [synonymized with P. revoili by Bolton, 1973: 338]. Syn. n. Polyrhachis revoili subsp. crassa Emery, 1921: 23. Syntype worker and gyne, CAMEROUN, 1895 (L. Conradt) (MSNG) [synonymy by Bolton, 1973: 342]. Polyrhachis revoili subsp. crassa var. phaenogaster Emery, 1921: 24. Syntype worker and gyne, CAMEROUN, 1895 (L. Conradt) (MSNG) [referred to P. weissi by Bolton, 1973: 342]. [unavailable name] Polyrhachis revoili subsp. balli Santschi, 1939: 10. Syntype workers, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC of the CONGO: Gazi, xii.1937 (Beinaert) (NHMB) [synonymized by Bolton, 1973: 342 under P. we i s s i]. Diagnosis. Polyrhachis weissi looks easily identifiable within the revoili -group for this unique combination of features: 1) clypeus with an uniformly rounded anterior margin; 2) head in full face view distinctly trapezoidal with a strongly transverse, weakly convex posterior border; 3) eyes moderately convex and placed close to posterior corners; 4) mesosoma fully immarginate and stout (in dorsal view pronotum and mesonotum strongly transverse, propodeal dorsum trapezoidal, much wider in front than behind and distinctly shorter than its maximum width); 5) propodeal dorsum bearing a pair of small, sharp upturned teeth at its posterior corners; 6) petiole with two pairs of spines, the mid pair slightly curved backward and distinctly longer; 7) body mostly reticulate punctate with superimposed fine longitudinal rugulae on cephalic and mesosomal dorsa (cephalic rugulae tidier); 8) standing hairs moderately long and abundant all over the body and legs, mostly yellowish in colour. Comment. Bolton (1973: 339) separated P. weissi Santschi from P. revoili Andr�� on ���quite trivial��� (in Bolton���s own words) characters: size, pilosity and sculpturation; he also gave them an allopatric distribution. Bolton���s revoili has strongly hairy scapes, is larger and more irregularly sculptured and was reported as occurring in eastern and southern Africa. On the contrary, the west and central African weissi has hairless or almost hairless scapes, a more regular sculpturation and smaller size. However, it must be pointed out that worker and gyne syntypes of P. revoili subsp. crassa Emery, synonymized with weissi by Bolton (1973), come from Cameroon and have as abundantly hairy scapes as Bolton���s revoili. Consequently, crassa should belong to revoili ���sensu Bolton��� and its collecting locality also denies the allopatry between weissi and revoili. Bolton���s revoili, weissi and all of their synonyms share the diagnostic features reported above and cannot be conspecific with P. revoili Andr�� (see under that heading). For this reason and because I could not see any consistent difference of size, sculpturation and pubescence, I assign all of them to weissi. However, the presence and number of standing hairs on scapes could suggest the existence of two distinct species. Some nest series have 0 to few standing hairs on scapes, whereas other samples have more than 30, without any seemingly intermediate condition. Because of lack of further reliable distinctive characters, I prefer to consider these alternative conditions as a matter of intraspecific variability. Material examined. Scapes with 0 ��� CENTRAL AFRICAN REP.: P.N. Dzanga-Ndoki, Mab��a Bai, 21.4 km 53�� NE Bayanga, 3��02���N 16��25���E, 510 m, 1���7.v.2001 #4004 (B.L. Fisher) (1g, CAS: CASENT0415886); Res. Dzanga-Sangha, 12.7 km 326�� NW Bayanga, 3��00���N 16��12���E, 420 m, 10���17.v.2001 #4083 (B.L. Fisher) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0081187); 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 w, CAS: CASENT0403724); 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) (1 g, 11 w, CAS: CASENT0403857, CASENT0403891, CASENT0403945, CASENT0403958, CASENT0404012, CASENT0404014, CASENT0404030, CASENT0404062, CASENT0404069); 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 w, CAS: CASENT0090751 CAR01-S109); Res. Dzanga-Sangha, 12.7 km 326�� NW Bayanga, 3��00.27���N 16��11.55���E, 420 m, 13.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0091738 CAR01-S151); Res. Dzanga-Sangha, 12.7 km 326�� NW Bayanga, 3��00.27���N 16��11.55���E, 420 m, 15.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (3 w, CAS: CASENT0091280 CAR01-S182, CASENT0091342 CAR01-S187, CASENT0092075 CAR01-S190); 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 w, CAS: CASENT0087509 CAR01-M151); Res. Dzanga- Sangha, 12.7 km 326�� NW Bayanga, 3��00.27���N 16��11.55���E, 420 m, 17.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 g, 1 w, CAS: CASENT0092087 CAR01-S191, CASENT0092184 CAR01-S199). Scapes with> 30 standing hairs. REPUBLIC of the CONGO: Niari Region, 2.30757 S 12.82985 E, 660 m, 3.vii.2013, primary forest, canopy fogging, (L. Niemand) (3 w, AFRC: CASENT0250020, CASENT0250023, CASENT0250032); Niari Region, 2.30339 S 12.83902 E, 705 m, 3.vii.2013, primary forest, canopy fogging, (L. Niemand) (1 g, AFRC: CASENT0250024); Niari Region, 2.31500 S 12.82488 E, 710 m, 5.vii.2013, primary forest, canopy fogging, (L. Niemand) (2 w, AFRC: CASENT0250016, CASENT0250017). SOUTH AFRICA: Kwazulu Natal, Umtamvuna Nature Reserve, 31��03.506���S 30��10.392���E, 160 m, 15 16.xi.2000 (S. van Noort) malaise trap, coastal forest (1 w, CAS: CASENT0099660 KW00-M74); Kwazulu Natal, Umtamvuna Nature Reserve, 31��03.506���S 30��10.392���E, 160 m, 17.xi.2000 (S. van Noort) sweep coastal forest (2 g, 6 w, CAS: CASENT0098295 KW00-S21, CASENT0098360 KW00-S30, CASENT0098382 KW00-S33, CASENT0098385 KW00-S34, CASENT0098386 KW00-S34, CASENT0098395 KW00-S35, CASENT0098398 KW00-S36, CASENT0098429 KW00-S39)., Published as part of Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Zootaxa 4088 (1) on pages 44-45, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261854

Polyrhachis luteipes n. sp. (Figures 9 a���c) Diagnosis. A small, thickset species in the revoili -group, with a lobed clypeal margin, minute pronotal teeth, a virtually unarmed propodeum, shining integument and testaceous legs. Holotype worker. HL 1.09, HW 0.90, CI 83, SL 1.30, SI 144, FW 0.34, FI 38, PW 0.68, WL 1.40, HTL 1.16. Clypeus ecarinate and with its anterior margin bearing a distinct protruding rectangular lobe, whose lateral corners are right-angled. Head in full face view oval, wider behind than in front, posteriorly widely convex. Eyes moderately large and convex. Mesosoma evenly convex in profile and immarginate. Pronotal humeri armed with two minute, diverging teeth. Propodeal dorsum with two faint ridges at its posterior corners. Propodeal dorsum and declivity confluent and forming a blunt obtuse angle in profile. Promesonotal suture clearly visible, metanotal suture faint. Petiole with a dorsal pair of moderately long and diverging spines and a pair of lateral sharp teeth; the space between dorsal spines straight. First gastral tergite anteriorly concave. Mandibles at most superficially shagreened/striolate with sparse piligerous pits. The whole body mostly superficially reticulate, shining. Standing hairs thin and pale, moderately abundant on body and appendages, relatively long especially on the head; longest hairs on scapes about four times as long as scape diameter at midlength. Longest standing hairs on tibiae about as long as maximum tibial width. Pubescence moderately long and sparse on the head, longer and fairly dense on the mesosoma, short and fairly sparse on the gaster. Body and coxae black, mandibles, antennae and legs mostly testaceous; forefemurs mostly brown. Paratype workers (n=2). HL 1.22, HW 0.98���1.00, CI 80���82, SL 1.47���1.49, SI 147���152, FW 0.40���0.41, FI 41, PW 0.85, WL 1.57���1.59, HTL 1.32���1.36. They mostly differ from the holotype by their completely unarmed propodeum, without any trace of teeth or ridges. Moreover, scape and first funicular joint mostly brown. Holotype. CAMEROUN: Mbalmayo, xi.1993 (N. Stork) (BMNH, specimen tagged: ���F.93.6/1���). Paratypes. CAMEROUN: Minko Meyos, 15 S of Yaound��, iii.1997, mango (J.L. Mercier) (2 w, BMNH). Comment. Polyrhachis luteipes shows a variable development of propodeal ridges, as well as P. dubia and, maybe, P. longiseta. Polyrhachis luteipes is similar to P. khepra, which is slightly larger, lacks an evident promesonotal suture, is more hairy, has a more sculptured head and darker appendages., Published as part of Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Zootaxa 4088 (1) on pages 30-31, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261854

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, Mab��a 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)., Published as part of Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Zootaxa 4088 (1) on page 37, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261854

Polyrhachis viscosa F. Smith (Figures 14 a���c) Polyrhachis viscosa F. Smith, 1858: 71, pl. 4, fig. 41. Holotype worker, SOUTH AFRICA: Natal, Durban (BMNH) [not seen]. Polyrhachis antinorii Emery, 1877: 365. Syntype workers, ERITREA: Sciotel and Keren, 1870 (O. Beccari) (MSNG) [examined]. [Synonymy by Dalla Torre, 1893: 271] Polyrhachis viscosa var. spretula Santschi, 1923: 294. Syntype workers and gyne, DEM. REP. of the CONGO: Kasai, Dumbi, 6.x.1921 (H. Schouteden) (MRAC) [not seen]. [Synonymy by Bolton, 1973: 330] Polyrhachis cubaensis subsp. imatongica Weber, 1943: 388, pl. 16, fig. 22. Syntype workers, SUDAN: Imatong Mts., east slopes, 3800���4000 ft, 24.vii.1939 (N.A. Weber) (MCZ) [not seen]. [Synonymy by Bolton, 1973: 330] Diagnosis. A viscosa -group species with a uniquely (among all African Polyrhachis) apically enlarged scape and proximally flattened first funicular joint. Distinctive features of P. v i s c os a and a comparison with P. omissa are discussed under the latter. In addition, I give measurements of viscosa workers I examined (n=16): HL 1.58���1.87, HW 1.30���1.59, CI 79���86, SL 1.70���2.15, SI 125���142, FW 0.40���0.50, FI 30���35, PW 1.11���1.47, WL 1.97���2.50, HTL 1.66���2.20. Material examined. BURKINA FASO: Tanguen (50 km NNE of Ouagadougou), viii.1996 (University of Milano) (1 w, MSNM); Tiogo (140 km W of Ouagadougou), iv.1999 (M. Ouedraogo) (4 w, MSNM). ETHIOPIA: Coromma, x.1892���93 (E. Ruspoli) (7 w, MSNG); Banno, 1.v.1939 (E. Zavattari, Mission Sagan ��� Omo) (1 w, MSNG); Banno, 7.v.1939 (E. Zavattari, Mission Sagan ��� Omo) (2 w, MSNG). ERITREA: Bogos, Sciotel, 1870 (O. Beccari) (2 w, MSNG); Bogos, Keren, 1870 (O. Beccari) (1 w, MSNG). KENYA: Laikipia Distr., Mpala Research Centre, 0.28��N 36.87��E, 13.ii.2004, 1600 m (S. Kamande) (5 w, HLMD)., Published as part of Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Zootaxa 4088 (1) on pages 42-43, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261854

Polyrhachis sulcata Andr�� EQUATORIAL GUINEA, Bioko, Moka, 1300 m, 3��21���36��� N 8��39���49���E, 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) (3 g, CAS)., Published as part of Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Zootaxa 4088 (1) on page 48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261854

Polyrhachis revoili Andr�� Polyrhachis revoili E. Andr��, 1887: 285. Holotype gyne, SOMALIA (Revoil) (MNHN) [examined]. Holotype gyne. HL 1.52, HW 1.25, CI 82, SL 1.81, SI 145, FW 0.46, FI 37, MnL 1.85, ScW 1.48, WL 2.52, HTL 1.89. Clypeus bearing a slightly protruding, wide lobe, whose anterior margin is slightly arcuate and limited laterally by right angled corners. Head in full face view oval, wider behind than in front, posterior margin evenly convex without posterior corners; sides in front of the eyes anteriorly converging and straight. Eyes relatively large and convex. Ocelli small. Pronotal and propodeal sides immarginate. Pronotal teeth small and robust. Propodeal dorsum in dorsal view strongly transverse (at its widest point it is more the thrice as wide as medially long), arched both longitudinally and transversely. Propodeal dorsum posterolaterally with a pair of weak, distant propodeal ridges; between the ridges the propodeal dorsum smoothly merges into the declivity. Petiole with a median pair of diverging and slightly backward bent spines, whose reciprocal distance is somewhat twice the length of each spine, and a pair of shorter lateral spines, which are about half as long as the dorsal pair. First gastral tergite anteriorly concave. Mandibles mostly smooth and shining, with superimposed elongate hair-bearing pits. Body and appendages reticulate-punctate; the sculpturation is stronger on the opaque head and mesosoma. Frons, vertex and scutum with superimposed longitudinal irregular rugulation. The whole body and appendages with abundant, pale golden, fine standing hairs; longest hairs occur on cephalic dorsum, scapes, scutellum and gaster. Longest hairs on tibiae at most a little shorter than the maximum tibial width; longest hairs on scapes about twice as long as the maximum scape width. Pubescence pale, relatively short and abundant throughout the body, never hiding the sculpturation; on the gaster it is relatively short and moderately dense. Body black, appendages chiefly dark brown. Mandibles apically ferrugineous as well as most of the antennal funiculi, whose 3 basalmost joints are proximally darkened. Comment. The examination of the holotype gyne has shown it is very different from what Bolton (1973) and former authors thought. Bolton (1973) did not see the type and evidently relied on Forel and other authors about the identity of P. revoili. Forel himself (1894) described the revoili worker on the basis of a specimen from Delagoa (Mozambique) and believed Andr�����s assurances about the conspecificity of his specimen with revoili. I have seen Forel���s worker and can confirm it corresponds to Bolton���s description. However, the type of P. revoili significantly differs from Forel���s specimen as well as from all other infraspecific taxa subsequently assigned to revoili or weissi. Bolton (1973) synonymized all of them either with revoili or with weissi. Bolton thought ��� revoili ��� and weissi differed in size, pilosity, and sculpturation. In my opinion, these differences are weak and unreliable (Bolton himself cast some doubts about their separation as distinct species) and I prefer to consider all of them as belonging to weissi (see below). As P. revoili auct. does not match P. rev o i l i Andr��, the latter remains known from the type only. As a consequence I assign all of the remaining forms to P. weissi Santschi (see under that heading). The main differences between revoili Andr�� and weissi are as follows: Polyrhachis revoili holotype (gyne) Polyrhachis weissi Anterior clypeal margin with a shallow and wide lobe, with Anterior clypeal margin entire, not lobed distinct right-angled corners Scape abundantly hairy, many hairs are as long as twice the Scape with standing hairs (when present) at most as long as maximum scape width scape width Head in full face view elongate oval; its posterior margin Head in full face view distinctly trapezoidal; its posterior uniformly and strongly convex. margin wide and weakly convex and with distinct posterior corners. Dorsal cephalic sculpture irregular and mostly reticulate Dorsal cephalic sculpture regular, longitudinally finely rugulose P. rev o i l i can be compared to other species of the group bearing a clypeal lobe as well, e.g. volkarti and kohli; yet, I could not find any worker looking conspecific with the revoili type., Published as part of Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Zootaxa 4088 (1) on pages 37-38, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261854

Polyrhachis brevipilosa n. sp. (Figures 1 a���c) Diagnosis. A small species in the revoili -group with lobed clypeus, weakly marginate pronotum, minute propodeal teeth, rough reticulate-punctate sculpture, and relatively abundant and short standing hairs on body and appendages. Holotype worker. HL 1.07, HW 0.89, CI 83, SL 1.21, SI 136, FW 0.33, FI 37, PW 0.79, WL 1.27, HTL 1.21. Clypeus medially fairly distinctly carinate and with its anterior margin bearing a small protruding rectangular lobe, whose lateral corners are distinctly right-angled. Head in full face view subtrapezoidal, wider behind than in front, posterior margin wide and weakly convex with widely rounded posterior corners. Eyes relatively large and protruding. Mesosoma stout, evenly convex in profile. Pronotum laterally marginate, the margination interrupted a little in front of the promesonotal suture; mesonotum and propodeum immarginate. Pronotal teeth anteriorly diverging, relatively short and sharp. Promesonotal suture distinct, metanotal suture weaker and hardly interrupting the sculpturation. Propodeal teeth reduced to minute tubercles. Propodeal dorsum and declivity confluent in a blunt curvature. Petiole with four thin spines, the dorsal pair directed upward and slightly backward and about 1.5 times as long as the lateral pair. Petiolar dorsum in frontal (or posterior) view obtusely angled in the middle. First gastral tergite anteriorly concave. Mandibles superficially striolate/shagreened and with sparse piligerous pits. Head, mesosoma, petiole and appendages reticulate-punctate and with a rough appearance, dull. Dorsum of head, pronotum and mesonotum also with a superimposed, relatively dense, coarse longitudinal, sometimes inconspicuous, rugulation. Gaster finely reticulate-punctate and fairly shining. Pubescence fine, whitish, short and moderately dense on most of the body and appendages, but sometimes poorly visible and never hiding the sculpturation. Standing hairs relatively short and moderately abundant on body and appendages, absent from the petiole. Longest hairs occur on head and leading edge of scapes. Few hairs on scapes longer than scape width at midlength; standing hairs on tibiae distinctly shorter than maximum tibial width. Body black, legs mostly concolorous with the body, tibiae dark brown; antennal funiculi mostly testaceous, mandibular apex ferrugineous. Paratype workers (n=2). HL 1.10���1.34, HW 0.91���1.07, CI 80���83, SL 1.27���1.48, SI 138���140, FW 0.34���0.42, FI 37���39, PW 0.82���1.02, WL 1.39���1.65, HTL 1.24���1.42. The smaller specimen does not significantly differ from the holotype. Yet an unexpectedly large specimen has a seemingly stouter mesosoma and pronotal teeth, and stronger petiolar spines (dorsal and lateral pairs more similar in size also). In my opinion, these differences are slight and possibly due to allometry. Holotype worker. GABON: La Makand��, For��t des Abeilles, I���II.1999, A. Dejean (BMNH). Paratypes. REPUBLIC of the CONGO: Niari Region, 2.30921 S 12.82224 E, 754 m, 4.vii.2013, primary forest, canopy fogging (L. Niemand) (1 w, AFRC: LN-RC1-044, CASENT0250041); Niari Region, 2.31500 S 12.82488 E, 710 m, 5.vii.2013, primary forest, canopy fogging (L. Niemand) (1 w, AFRC: LN-RC1-041, CASENT0250033). Comment. Polyrhachis brevipilosa is the smallest species of the revoili -group. Only P. luteipes n. sp. (see below) and P. re g e s a Bolton have a comparable size. Polyrhachis luteipes differs especially for its much weaker sculpturation, paler appendages and immarginate pronotum. Polyrhachis regesa is very similar to brevipilosa, but they can be distinguished as reported in the key. I examined the holotype of P. regesa Bolton and realized that the metanotal suture is not completely wanting as stated by Bolton and a faint trace remains visible under certain lights. Also, the propodeal ���tubercles��� (in Bolton���s own words) of regesa look like weak ridges because they are relatively wide and much closer to one another than in brevipilosa, where they are short and tooth-like., Published as part of Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Zootaxa 4088 (1) on pages 11-13, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261854

Polyrhachis submarginata n. sp. (Figures 12 a���c) Diagnosis. A relatively large species in the revoili -group, with somewhat slender head and appendages, incomplete and weak pronotal margination, and very weak propodeal ridges. Holotype worker. HL 1.66, HW 1.25, CI 75, SL 2.02, SI 162, FW 0.45, FI 36, PW 1.13, WL 2.17, HTL 1.98. Clypeus medially subcarinate and with anterior margin bearing a protruding rectangular lobe, whose lateral corners are right angled. Head in full face view moderately elongate, oval, wider behind than in front, posterior margin widely convex. Eyes moderately large and convex. Mesosoma stout and evenly convex in profile. In dorsal view pro- and mesonotum distinctly transverse; propodeal dorsum somewhat longer than wide. Pronotum laterally weakly marginate and armed with two small diverging teeth; the margination incomplete and somewhat difficult to see even because of sculpturation and pubescence. Mesonotum and propodeum immarginate. Propodeal dorsum with two faint posterolateral ridges at its posterior corners, medially propodeal dorsum and declivity confluent in a blunt curvature. Promesonotal suture slightly impressed, metanotal suture faint. Petiole with a dorsal pair of widely separated, moderately long and diverging spines and a pair of lateral sharp teeth; the space between dorsal spines straight. First gastral tergite anteriorly weakly concave. Mandibles faintly longitudinally striolate and with sparse piligerous pits, mostly shining. The whole body and appendages finely reticulate-punctate. Body opaque, appendages weakly shining. Head and mesosomal dorsum with a superimposed, fine, irregular longitudinal rugulation. Standing hairs abundant everywhere and longer on head and mesosoma. Hairs on scapes at most a little longer than scape diameter at midlength; hairs on tibiae at most about as long as half the maximum tibial width. Body and appendages coated with dense, short and silvery to slightly golden pubescence, not masking the sculpturation and longer on mesosoma and petiole. Colour black, most of the funicular joints and mandibular apices ferrugineous. Paratype worker. HL 1.62, HW 1.22, CI 75, SL 1.98, SI 162, FW 0.47, FI 39, PW 1.19, WL 2.3, HTL 1.98. All main features as in the holotype. Holotype. CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Res. Dzanga���Sangha, 12.7 km, 326�� NW Bayanga, 3��00.27��� N 16��11.55��� E, 420 m, 10���11.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (CAS: CASENT0087089 CAR01-M78). Paratype. CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: same data as the holotype, except 14���15.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0088752 CAR01-M123). Comment. Polyrhachis submarginata is characterised by weak pronotal margination and propodeal ridges, and a relatively high SI. Polyrhachis submarginata is similar to P. otleti and the main differences between them are reported in the key. Polyrhachis submarginata seems to link revoili -group species with immarginate mesosoma and with well defined, although incomplete, margination. Polyrhachis volkarti Forel is similar but is smaller, has a usually immarginate pronotum, distinctly more slender mesosoma. well developed propodeal ridges, and a higher SI. Polyrhachis kohli, P. submarginata and P. volkarti look very similar, and share some important features: 1) a shallow clypeal lobe; 2) relatively long scapes, SI> 150; 3) abundant pilosity on body and appendages; 4) mesosoma completely immarginate or almost so; 5) propodeal dorsum and declivity separated by a pair of small, more or less developed, ridges; 6) petiole armed with a pair of moderately long median spines and a pair of lateral much shorter teeth; 7) rough, mostly irregularly longitudinal rugulose sculpturation on head and mesosoma; 8) Body coated with abundant, relatively short and moderately dense greyish pubescence never hiding the sculpturation. The main differences can be summarized as follows: Diagnosis. The largest species of the revoili -group known so far, with almost complete lateral marginations of the mesosoma and a continuous well developed ridge separating propodeal dorsum from declivity. Holotype worker. HL 2.60, HW 2.37, CI 91, SL 2.50, SI 105, FW 0.80, FI 34, PW 2.05, WL 3.5, HTL 2.77. Clypeus subcarinate, with anterior margin arcuate and medially bearing a faint shallow rounded lobe. Head trapezoidal, wider behind than in front, posterior margin and sides widely convex. Eyes moderately large and convex, close to the posterior corners. Mesosoma in profile evenly weakly convex, mesonotum almost flat. Promesonotal suture well-developed, metanotal suture weak and hardly interrupting the dorsal sculpturation. Pronotum with a pair of strong teeth at its anterior corners and laterally clearly marginate, the margination interrupted just before the promesonotal suture. Mesonotum with a weaker margination, interrupted before the metanotal suture. Lateral margination of propodeal dorsum faint, detectable along about its anterior half. Propodeal dorsum and declivity well-separated by a continuous ridge which is slightly higher medially. Petiole with a dorsal pair of distant, moderately long and diverging spines and a pair of lateral shorter ones; the space between the dorsal spines straight. First gastral tergite anteriorly weakly concave. Mandibles distinctly longitudinally striolate and with sparse piligerous pits. Clypeus superficially finely reticulate-punctate. Head dorsum prevailingly longitudinally costulate with a faint ground sculpture; head sides and cheeks (malar space) mostly reticulate-rugose with finely reticulate-punctate ground sculpture. Mesosomal dorsum finely longitudinally rugulose with reticulate-punctate ground sculpture. Mesosomal sides mostly finely longitudinally rugulose; mesopleuron less evidently so. Petiole finely reticulate-punctate with superimposed rugulation. Gaster finely reticulate-punctate throughout. Short to moderately long standing hairs abundant on all body surfaces and appendages. On the legs hairs are shorter than the maximum tibial width. Hairs on scapes are at most slightly longer than scape diameter at midlength. Body and appendages coated with dense, short and greyish pubescence, not masking the sculpturation and sparser on head dorsum and clypeus. Colour black, except a brown dorsal strip on femurs and tibiae and pale ferrugineous gastral apex. Holotype. TANZANIA: Morogoro, Kilombero, Zoosite 2, 11.3 km ESE Mbingu, 8.20483 S 36.36055 E, 277 m, 23.x.2007, closed miombo woodland, pitfall trap, FRO 2007_2_P (E. Jew & L. Williams) (SAM: CASENT0250168). Comment. Polyrhachis terminata is unique for its large size and the complete ridge running between propodeal dorsum and declivity. This ridge is much stronger than the incomplete and weak margination of the propodeal sides., Published as part of Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Zootaxa 4088 (1) on pages 39-41, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261854

Polyrhachis rufipalpis Santschi CENTRAL AFRICAN REP.: P.N. Dzanga���Ndoki, 21.4 km 53�� NE Bayanga, 3��02.01���N 16��24.57���E, 510 m, 3.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0089317 CAR01-S09); P.N. Dzanga���Ndoki, 21.4 km 53�� NE Bayanga, 3��02.01���N 16��24.57���E, 510 m, 4.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0088995 CAR01-S17); P.N. Dzanga���Ndoki, Mab��a Bai, 21.4 km 53�� NE Bayanga, 3��02���00���N 16��24���36���E, 510 m, 4.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (2 w, CAS: CASENT0089148 CAR01-S20, CASENT0090110 CAR01-S27); P.N. Dzanga���Ndoki, 21.4 km 53�� NE Bayanga, 3��02.01���N 16��24.57���E, 510 m, 5.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (2 w, CAS: CASENT0089692 CAR01-S34, CASENT0089755 CAR01-S38); P.N. Dzanga���Ndoki, 21.4 km 53�� NE Bayanga, 3��02.01���N 16��24.57���E, 510 m, 6.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (4 w, CAS: CASENT0089353 CAR01-S45, CASENT0089427 CAR01-S50, CASENT0089668 CAR01-S66, CASENT0090374 CAR01-S67); P.N. Dzanga���Ndoki, 21.4 km 53�� NE Bayanga, 3��02.01���N 16��24.57���E, 510 m, 7.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (2 w, CAS: CASENT0090961 CAR01-S99, CASENT0089956 CAR01-S100); Res. Dzanga���Sangha, 12.7 km 326�� NW Bayanga, 3��00.27���N 16��11.55���E, 420 m, 11���17.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 g, CAS: CASENT0093989 CAR01-Y28); 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 w, CAS: CASENT0090715 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) (2 g, 4 w, CAS: CASENT0093093 CAR01-S114, CASENT0089854 CAR01-S122, CASENT0089895 CAR01- S125, CASENT0089917 CAR01-S128, CASENT0090991 CAR01-S135, CASENT0091037 CAR01-S139); Res. Dzanga���Sangha, 12.7 km 326�� NW Bayanga, 3��00.27���N 16��11.55���E, 420 m, 13.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (2 g, 5 w, CAS: CASENT0091626 CAR01-S146, CASENT0091737 CAR01-S151, CASENT0091773 CAR01-S152, CASENT0091083 CAR01-S155, CASENT0091101 CAR01-S156, CASENT0091130 CAR01-S158, CASENT0091147 CAR01-S159); Res. Dzanga���Sangha, 12.7 km 326�� NW Bayanga, 3��00.27���N 16��11.55���E, 420 m, 15.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (2 g, 2 w, CAS: CASENT0092067 CAR01-S171, CASENT0091295 CAR01-S183, CASENT0091319 CAR01-S185, CASENT0092826 CAR01-S86); Res. Dzanga���Sangha, 12.7 km 326�� NW Bayanga, 3��00.27���N 16��11.55���E, 420 m, 17.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 g, CAS: CASENT0092128 CAR01-S194); P.N.. Dzanga���Ndoki, 38.6 km 173�� S Lidjombo, 2��21.60���N 16��03.20���E, 350 m, 21���27.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0094229 CAR01-Y52); 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) (10 g, 16 w, CAS: CASENT0092220 CAR01-S202, CASENT0092251 CAR01- S204, CASENT0092276 CAR01-S206, CASENT0092287 CAR01-S207, CASENT0092302 CAR01-S208, CASENT0092319 CAR01-S209, CASENT0092335 CAR01-S211, CASENT0092342 CAR01-S212, CASENT0092365 CAR01-S213, CASENT0092378 CAR01-S214, CASENT0092402 CAR01-S216, CASENT0092413 CAR01-S217, CASENT0092451 CAR01-S220, CASENT0092495 CAR01-S223, CASENT0092508 CAR01-S224, CASENT0092523 CAR01-S225, CASENT0092539 CAR01-S226, CASENT0092557 CAR01-S228, CASENT0092570 CAR01-S229, CASENT0092582 CAR01-S230, CASENT0092583 CAR01-S230, CASENT0092599 CAR01-S231, CASENT0092709 CAR01-S237, CASENT0092756 CAR01-S240, CASENT0093531 CAR01-S246, CASENT0093559 CAR01-S248); P.N. Dzanga���Ndoki, 38.6 km 173�� S Lidjombo, 2��21.60���N 16��03.20���E, 350 m, 23.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (2 g, 7 w, CAS: CASENT0093635 CAR01-S255, CASENT0093670 CAR01-S258, CASENT0093346 CAR01-S273, CASENT0093347 CAR01-S273, CASENT0093369 CAR01-S274, CASENT0093370 CAR01-S274, CASENT0093447 CAR01-S277, CASENT0094854 CAR01-S278, CASENT0094877 CAR01-S279); P.N. Dzanga���Ndoki, 38.6 km 173�� S Lidjombo, 2��21.60���N 16��03.20���E, 350 m, 25.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 g, 4 w, CAS: CASENT0094958 CAR01-S282, CASENT0094526 CAR01-S289, CASENT0092987 CAR01-S90, CASENT0094554 CAR01-S291, CASENT0094571 CAR01-S293). UGANDA: Kibale NP, Kanyawara Biol. Stn., 0.56164��N 30.35655��E, 1500 m �� 200 m, 6���16.viii.2012, Ant Course 2012, field station clearing (G. Fischer) (1 w, HLMD)., Published as part of Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Zootaxa 4088 (1) on page 47, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261854

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). 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)., Published as part of Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Zootaxa 4088 (1) on page 20, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261854

Polyrhachis epinotalis Santschi stat. n. (Figures 4 a���c) Polyrhachis militaris st. epinotalis Santschi, 1924: 222 (in key). Lectotype worker and one paralectotype worker (by present designation), DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC of the CONGO: Elizabethville [= Lubumbashi], ix.1911 (Miss. Agric Leplae). [First available use of Polyrhachis militaris r. cupreopubescens var. epinotalis Forel, 1913a: 357; unavailable name (Bolton, 1973b: 313). Junior synonym of militaris: Dorow, 1995: 36.] (MHNG) [examined]. Stat. n. Diagnosis. A large species in the militaris -group with relatively slender body, oval head, abundant, long and, at least partially, golden pubescence, and upturned propodeal spines. Lectotype worker. HL 2.68, HW 2.05, CI 76, SL 3.21, SI 157, FW 0.74, FI 36, PW 1.66, WL 3.52, HTL 3.60. Anterior clypeal border medially bearing a laterally obtusely angled shallow lobe. Head in full face view oval, with moderately convex sides strongly converging to the short posterior margin. Eyes moderate in size and strongly convex. Mesosoma strongly, often flange-like marginate along its sides. Promesonotal suture well marked; metanotal suture deeply incised and narrow. Disc of pronotum and mesonotum approximately transverse; propodeal dorsum longer than wide. Pronotal spines long and sharp. Propodeal teeth long, upturned and spine-like; in profile nearly as long as the height of the propodeal declivity. Petiole with four sharp spines, the dorsal pair much longer than the lateral pair. The entire body mostly reticulate-punctate and dull, longitudinally rugulose on occiput and vertex, including the space between eyes and frontal carinae. Mandibles finely longitudinally striolate. Pubescence abundant throughout, long and golden especially dorsally where it mostly hides the sculpturation. Standing hairs abundant on body and appendages; relatively short on antennae, longer on the legs and even longer on most of the dorsum of the body. Integument mostly black, mostly hidden by the long and dense golden pubescence. Paralectotype worker (same data as the lectotype). HL 2.50, HW 1.92, CI 77, SL 3.05, SI 159, FW 0.71, FI 37, PW 1.58, WL 3.48, HTL 3.40. Very similar to the Lectotype. Other workers examined (n=12). HL 2.51���2.86, HW 1.90���2.17, CI 72���82, SL 2.95���3.52, SI 143���174, FW 0.67���0.83, FI 34���40, PW 1.54���1.88, WL 3.28���3.92, HTL 3.48���4.00. Comment. Forel described this taxon using an unavailable name combination (a quadrinomen) and later Santschi (1924) made that name available considering epinotalis as a subspecies of militaris. I have designated as lectotype one of Forel���s syntypes at MHNG. The lectotype is in quite good condition, but misses its right foretibia and tarsus. Although considered for many years as a synonym of P. militaris, P. epinotalis is a distinct species. Santschi (1924) pointed out the epinotalis head shape as its main distinctive feature. Principal differences separating epinotalis from militaris workers (and, in part, gynes) are as follows: The size difference of propodeal teeth between epinotalis and militaris is usually remarkable. Forel (1913a) stated that epinotalis ��� teeth appear as upturned spines, much longer than in militaris and other related species. However, this feature is subject to some variability. In addition, epinotalis is usually more slender than militaris, with only the mesonotum distinctly transverse, but that is not always true. I examined a robust worker from Kenya (Arabuko-Sokoke Forest at HLMD) which looks militaris -like, but it has a round head and spiniform, although relatively short, propodeal teeth. Peter Hawkes (pers. comm.) faced the same difficulties with some epinotalis specimens (as well as with some slender militaris), but confidently identified them using head and propodeal teeth shapes. Almost all specimens I examined look relatively consistent and the species seems about as widespread as P. militaris, with which it probably co-occurs. The golden colour of the pubescence in P. epinotalis could be as variable as in militaris: some specimens look more or less greyish. The petiolar spines are slightly variable in length and the long and diverging dorsal pair is more or less apically bent backward; the lateral pair is always relatively well developed, varying from sharp teeth to short spines. Material examined. (except types). GABON: La Makand��, For��t des Abeilles, i���ii.1999 (A. Dejean) (1 w, BMNH). EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Bioko, 7 km N Luba, 3��27���56���N 8��29���42���E, 14.x1998 (D. Ubick, D.K. Dabney, R.W. Tomos, M. Boko, J.V. Vindum) (1 g, CAS). DEM. REP. of the CONGO: 75 mi. W of Popokabaka, 2.viii.1957 (E.S. Ross & R.E. Leech); 39 km S of Walikale, 700 m, 21.xii.1957 (E.S. Ross & R.E. Leech) (1 w, BMNH); 5 mi. S of Fizi, 1320 m, 10.i.1958 (E.S. Ross & R E. Leech) (1 w, CAS). CENTRAL AFRICAN REP.: P.N. Dzanga-Ndoki, 21.4 km 53�� NE Bayanga, 3��02.01���N 16��24.57��� E, 510 m, 1���2.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0086054 CAR01-M02); P.N. Dzanga-Ndoki, 21.4 km 53�� NE Bayanga, 3��02.01���N 16��24.57��� E, 510 m, 6���7.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0087003 CAR01-M65); P.N. Dzanga-Ndoki, 21.4 km 53�� NE Bayanga, 3��02.01���N 16��24.57��� E, 510 m, 7.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0090853 CAR01-S91); P.N. Dzanga-Ndoki, 38.6 km 173�� S Lidjombo, 2��21.60���N 16��03.20���E, 350 m, 21���27.v.2001 (S. van Noort) (1 w, CAS: CASENT0094892 CAR01-Y67). UGANDA: Kampala Tank Hill, 7���10.vii.1987 (V. Ferri) (4 w, MSNM); Entebbe, Entebbe Botanical Gardens, 17���22.viii.2012, 0��03���52.61���N 32��28���40.50���E, 1143 m, on tree (F. Hita Garcia) (3 w, HLMD). RWANDA: 40 km E of Kigali, 1575 m, 9.xii.1957 (E.S. Ross & R.E. Leech) (1 w, BMNH). KENYA: Kaimosi Mission, 27 mi. NE of Kisumu, 1650m, 29.xi.1957 (E.S. Ross & R.E. Leech) (1 w, BMNH); Kakamega, 28.iii.1976 (W. Gotwald & R. Schefer) (2 w, BMNH); Malindi district, Arabuko-Sokoke forest, 3.29��S 39.98��E, 10���15 m el., 31.v.2001, #01-438, 2nd hardwood forest nr ���Tree-House���, foraging in litter (R.R. Snelling & D.J. Martins) (1 w, HLMD); Western Province, Kakamega Forest, Udo���s camp, kitchen band, 1650 m, vi.2008, daytime hand collected (F. Hita Garcia) (1 g, HLMD); Western Province, Kakamega Forest, Colobus primary forest, 0��21���16���N 34��51���36���E, 1650 m, vii.2008, handcoll. (G. F i s c h er) (1 w, HLMD); Western Province, Kakamega Forest, Mwanzu Trail, 0��14���15.5���N 34��52���03.2���E, 1650 m, prim. Forest, 11.viii.2008, from ground, hand collected (G. F i s c h e r) (5 w, HLMD). ZAMBIA: North Western Prov., Ikelenge, Hillwood Farm, 11��14���57.45���S 24��18���50.82���E, 1392 m, hand coll., viii.2008 (R. van den Elzen) (3 w, HLMD)., Published as part of Rigato, Fabrizio, 2016, The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Zootaxa 4088 (1) on pages 17-19, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261854