Dorylus (Dorylus) pulliceps Santschi - new status

Type location Ivory Coast (Dorylus affinis Shuck. var. pulliceps n. var., Santschi, 1917c: 19, male) collected by J H Lohier .

As shown below, the fresh males from the Central African Republic match Santschi's description and are quite distinct from the type Dorylus (D.) affinis. Thus, I have raised this form to species status.

Santschi (1917c) constructed a key to the males of the numerous varieties already known by that time; this, with his description of pulliceps, sudanica is at .

Head blackish, body reddish-brown; TL 20-21 mm, HW 3.8, PW 3.8, wing 14-14.5; scape length reaching only the fifth segment of the funiculus; mandibles relatively longer, with the apex elongated; pilosity on the dorsal alitrunk more evenly arranged; alitrunk appears shiny as the pubescence is scarce; pubescence more abundant on gaster [?? funiculus with first two-three segments fuscous, the remainder yellowish].

The photomontage is of a specimen from the Central African Republic, 20.x.2008; Nuit; Camp 2; 03°01'49.5" N 16°08'31.7" E 567 m; Au camp; collector Philippe Annoyer. Other images can be seen in the folder at -

Details of the above specimen.