Dorylus (Anomma) militaris Santschi - new status

Type locality Zaïre (Dorylus (Anomma) kohli Wasm. var miltaris n. var., Santschi, 1923e: 274, not illustrated, workers); worker and soldier known (see Bolton, 1995) .

Santschi's (1923e) description of the major is at . He gave the collection details as from "Congo Belge", Yambata & Avakubi, by De Giorgi; also from Kasensero, by Dr Bequaert, 17.vii.1914.

Raignier & van Boven (1955) cited the Santschi's description from a series of workers, TL 12-2.7 mm, dimensions that approached those of congolensis, from which it was difficult to separate. The major head is rectangular, longer than wide (HL 3.5 HW 3.0); narrower than congolensis and similar to emeryi; the sides parallel in the anterior three-quarters; the remaining quarter a little less narrowing than congolensis, with a less rounded lobe that is less conic than emeryi; also the mandibles are more arcuate and longer than congolensis.

They made two field collections, with 46 specimens, TL majors range 12-10.7 mm and minima 3.6-1.7 mm; major head rectangular and narrowing sharply behind, to about 3/4 of maximum width; matt anteriorly, shiny mid-face and matt again posteriorly; pronotum and most of gaster shiny; mesonotum, propodeum, petiole and basal gaster duller.

Polymorphism

The photomontages are of specimens from one of two collections from Bossou, south eastern Guinea by Tatyana Humle (Humle 6, 03.vii.2001, and Humle 8, 14.vii.2001). The ant colonies were observed as eaten by chimpanzees using "ant-dipping" (using tools to gather the ants). In October 2003, Professor Uehara sent me further samples with two sets of specimens from the Kalinzu Forest, Uganda (30°07'E 0°17'S); both sets matching the characters I have described below.

The various morphs are shown in detail on Dorylus (Anomma) militaris morphs page.

Full new description - Humle 6 & Humle 8 (latter not measured)
TL 11.0 HW 3.25 HL 3.0 HD 2.0 CI 108 SL 1.5 SI 50 AL 3.5 PW 1.25 PetL 1.0 GL 3.5 MFL 2.5
Overall appearance shiny, polished on head and apical gaster all over similar dark chestnut, including appendages.
Head - just widest about mid-length; sides very evenly but only moderately convex; posterior margin very shallow scallop, with median bump, posterolateral angles rounded; sculpturation almost smooth, spiculation just visible at x 32, minutest of very sparse hair pits; median line visible solely as slight impression on frontal area; clypeal margin sinuous, with median and lateral fine moderately long hairs; mandibles polished, moderately long and thick, large triangular basal tooth, minute denticles in post-apical tooth loci; internal hairs; scape short and fairly stout; funiculus slender and progressively longer, bristly; bulbous profile, ventrally convex, frontal area flat; erect hairs none, no pilosity.
Alitrunk - domed LS and TS but posterior pronotum shallowly concave flat and very distinct "saddle" with posterior suture; spiracle a clear oblique oval, top further forward; propodeum rising from saddle, then smooth down slope and curve into short vertical declivity; metapleural gland upper hardly longer than lower; sculpturation fine spiculation all over; erect hairs and pilosity none.
Petiole - short relative to width, flat dorsum, all edges rounded, slight posteroventral protrusions; dorsum distinctly wider at back, sides faintly convex; spiracle protruding slightly from above; subpetiolar process quite large, with rearward facing hook; sculpturation as alitrunk; hairs none dorsally, few fine hairs ventrally.
Gaster - appearance base as petiole, rest shiny; only slightly waisted; hairs almost none dorsally, short and flat ventrally.
Legs - coxae quite long relative to short femora; femora short, wide and shiny; tibiae relatively short, wide and coarse pilosity from distinct hair pits; tarsi relatively short and bristly, large heavy claws.

Minima morph
Head with fine effaced spiculation, colour very dark brown; dorsum with abundant decumbent fine pilosity; scape very dark, funiculus dark yellow.