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 Harpegnathos |
Name that Ant #78 |
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Major Worker Ant Posts: 473 10/29/2006 8:54 AM
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Here is an ant from Niamey, Niger, for you to identify while Mrmacophyl is looking for a better NTA.
The ant on a 1mm grid:  A closeup of the petiole and propodeum:  The petiole and gaster, showing the iridescent gold color of the gaster:  And the tip of the gaster:  H |
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nugi81 |
fabricius'? | #1 | ||
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Adult Worker Ant Posts: 284 10/29/2006 10:35 AM
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Was it described by Fabricius from a worker from Senegal..
I don't want to spoil it too fast if I'm right. -added- *looking around* Quiet in here.. Ill just take a guess. Its probably Camponotus sericeus. I see it more like Polyrhachis. |
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Mrmacophyl |
Re: fabricius'? | #2 | ||
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Posts: 3405 11/03/2006 4:38 PM
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Harpegnathos Many thanks for posting this one. I have been running wild here and not had a chance to post.
"The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds the most discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' (I found it!) but 'That's funny...."
Isaac Asimov: |
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bagoti |
Re: Name that Ant #78 | #3 | ||
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Posts: 24 11/04/2006 12:00 AM |
Looks like Camponotus sericeus to me aswell.
Ajay |
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Harpegnathos |
Re: Name that Ant #78 | #4 | ||
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Major Worker Ant Posts: 473 11/13/2006 1:53 PM
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Anyone else want to post a guess?
H |
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Dr Ant |
Re: Name that Ant #78 | #5 | ||
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Posts: 5364 11/13/2006 4:22 PM
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I'm leaning toward Polyrhachis, myself, but haven't pinned down a species. The head is rather camponotus-ish though. Hmmm?
[Added later] -- Couldn't get this keyed to any known African Polyrhachis, and the more I look at these pictures and other material on Camponotus sericeus, the more that looks like the right ID. See antbase.org/ants/africa/o...myrmex.htm for a key to species in the subgenus of Camponotus to which this species belongs. |
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Harpegnathos |
Re: Name that Ant #78 | #6 | ||
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Major Worker Ant Posts: 473 11/21/2006 1:32 PM
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The correct identification is indeed Camponotus sericeus.
When I first saw this ant I wondered how Camponotus sericeiventris came to be in the middle of Africa, but of course this is not the golden ant of Central and South America. I used Dr. Brian Taylor's Ants of Africa web site to identify the specimen and afterward consulted Dr. Taylor, who confirmed the identification. I asked him about the shape of the propodeum and the lack of a visible acidipore, which suggest Polyrhachis. Dr. Taylor noted that in the photo there is a circular opening but no visible fringe of hairs and that the same is true in other photos of the species, wherever they came from. In some Camponotus photos, however, it appears that the acidopore is retractable and not always visible - so not a reliable diagnostic character. Dr. Taylor provided an additional image from the Ants of Egypt, a project on which he is collaborating with Mostafa Sharaf. Camponotus sericeus is a widespread species, ranging from Senegal to Sri Lanka. The Handbook of the Ants of Peninsular India found in this this recent thread has a photo of the Golden Backed Ant, C. sericeus and describes it as the commonest ant in India. H Added on 8 December: I think this NTA is ready to move to the archive. |
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Mrmacophyl |
Re: Name that Ant #78 | #7 | ||
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Posts: 3405 12/08/2006 6:32 PM
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Sorry for the delay in getting it moved, been out with the flu.
"The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds the most discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' (I found it!) but 'That's funny...."
Isaac Asimov: |
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antdude |
Re: Sick | #8 | ||
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Posts: 17202 12/08/2006 6:55 PM
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Mrmacophyl: No flu shot? I just got mine last Wednesday, but I always get sick during October.
 People, at work, are sick."You're kissing an ant hill." --Mike Nelson /\___/\ / /\ /\ \ Ant (aka AntDude), Your Host & Fearless Overlord| |o o| | \ _ / The Ant Farm's Message Board and Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL). ( ) |
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