Tapinoma schultzei (Forel)
Type
location Botswana (Semonius schultzei, Forel,
1910f: 21, worker; Santschi, 1914b: 120, male; Arnold, 1915: 158,
queen); all forms described (see Bolton, 1995)
.
Forel's (1910f) description is at
.
Santschi's (1914b) illustrated description of the sexual forms is
at .
Arnold's (1915) illustrated descriptions are at
.
and .
Arnold (1915: 157, illustrated) had the following translation -
"WORKER - TL 1.8-2 mm. Black or brownish, dull or only very
slightly shining. Pubescence greyish, dense and microscopic; a few
pilose hairs on the clypeus. Microscopically and closely
punctured. Head one-fifth longer than wide, the sides moderately
convex, the hind angles strongly rounded, the posterior margin
almost straight. The anterior margin of the clypeus is straight or
nearly so. The frontal carinae rounded, very short, nearer to the
eyes than they are to each other. Eyes moderately large, flat,
situated in front of the middle. Mandibles smooth and shining,
with a few small punctures, feebly dentate. The scape reaches back
as far as the posterior fourth of the head; all the joints of the
funiculus, except the 1st and last, wider than long, the last
three joints form a slight club. Thorax shorter and much narrower
than the head, distinctly convex longitudinally. Thoracic sutures
distinct. Pronotum one-third wider than long, sloping steeply in
its anterior half. Mesonotum wider in front than behind, one-third
wider than long. The dorsum of the propodeum is as wide as the
mesonotum, and is not clearly delimited from the very oblique
declivity; the whole propodeum is a little longer than the
mesonotum. Petiole flattened, acuminate at the base, widest below
the middle. Gaster ovate, overhanging the petiole. Legs short, all
the femora, rather broad.
Zimbabwe (S. Rhodesia), fairly common. Kalahari (Schultze).
Durban (Marley.)
This is a timid and quick ant, living on trees and nesting under
the bark. When disturbed, it emits from the anal glands a white
sticky fluid, which hardens on exposure to the air."
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The
photomontage is of a specimen from Tanzania, Mkomazi Game
Reserve, 3°54.74' S 37°48.49' E, pkd collection from
Combretum molle, 15.i.1996, by G McGavin. Other images can
be seen in the folder at -
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