Dorylus (Anomma) molestus (Gerstæcker) - revived
status
Type location Mozambique (Anomma molesta, Gerstæcker,
1858: 262, worker) collected by Peters; spelling molestus
in agreement with Bolton (1995)
.
Bolton (1995: 177) lists as a junior synonym antinorii
from Ethiopia (Alaopone antinorii, Emery, 1881a:
275, illustrated, worker); it was combined in Dorylus by
Dalla Torre (1893: 10) but that is the placement of Alaopone
as a subgenus of Dorylus; further confirmed by Emery
(1895j: 736), who curiously appears to link it with with D.
(Rhogmus) fimbriatus. The synonymy with molestus is
attributed by Bolton to Emery (1910b: 12) -
.
The antinorii drawing, although of a minor, is unequivocal
and shows what can only be taken as an Alaopone from the
overall shape and the nine-segmented antennae. I,
therefore have transferred
Dorylus
antinorii as a distinct species within the subgenus Dorylus
(Alaopone). |
Gerstaecker's
description was cited by Raignier & van Boven (1955) as - "Anomma
molesta, n.sp.; rufo-brunnea, glabra, nitida, capite
abdomineque obscurioribus, mandibulis minus elongatis, apice
obtusiusculis, dente interno posteriore lato, valido, anteriore
vix distincto, margine interstitiali leviter crenulato. Long. lin.
5 [TL = 10.6 mm]". In 1862, Gerstaecker added that the
petiole was distinct, accepted by Wasmann (1904) and then others,
Emery (1899e) etc., as the petiole being straight and narrow
distinct with no postero-ventral teeth (similar to wilverthi
and longer than arcens).
From their detailed study of queens, Raignier & van Boven
(1955) decided that the definition by Forel (1912j) was actually
of a specimen identical with that of molestus, as
described by Mayr (1896?) - presumably they referred to the
comparative notes in Mayr's description of
Dorylus emeryi.
Forel's descriptions of workers collected in Entebbe, Uganda, are
at .
Note these drawings and my photographs (soldier and minima) are
reasonably matched (the soldier head is straighter sided and
narrower posteriorly than
Dorylus
burmeisteri, although the soldier petiole is shown as
having postero-ventral teeth.
Bernard (1952) wrote that the worker was distinguished from all
races of nigricans by having a slender, matt, petiole, not
enlarged or angular posteriorly; other constant differences are of
the antennae and the face. He did not comment on the
posteroventral teeth. He related how Santschi (1914) thought it
was the male of nigricans var molesta (on the
grounds of molesta workers being the sole highland form of
East Africa). However, in Santschi's collection, he (Bernard) had
found the form grouped with stanleyi, the males being
significantly different from nigricans. Thus, Bernard
adopted the view that molesta workers were associated with
the known males of stanleyi. Note - Bernard's use
of stanleyi as the species name would be wrong if the
association with molesta is correct.
Gotwald (1982) gave the illustration (right). |
Wheeler (1922) listed very many findings of molestus (as a
variety of nigricans) from eastern Africa and findings of
stanleyi (males only known) from Congo and several from
eastern Africa, including at 2420 m in Tanzania.
Guinea records were workers taken at Yanlé, Gama,
Ziéla (Lamotte) and higher, around 700-900 m, by Villiers
in the north-eastern primary forest of Mt. Nimba. It was less
frequent than emeryi and nigricans, whereas in
Katanga stanleyi was dominant (Bernard, 1952).
In Kenya, Gotwald (1974) investigated molesta
from the central highlands, the Kakamega Forest and in the
savannah (which in Kenya is at above 1500 m). The major prey
organism were insects, although annelids were 22.2% of Forest
prey. |
Polymorphism
The photomontages are of specimens from the Central African
Republic, collected at Bozo, by Degallier, 18.xii.1981.
The various morphs are shown in detail on the
Dorylus (Anomma)
molestus morphs page. |
The
photomontage is of a major specimen collected in Central
African Republic- Bozo, 08.xii.1981, by Degallier (sent to me
by Peter Hlavac). |
The
photomontage is collated from
http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0172660&shot=p1&project=null,
collected at Chogoria, Kenya, by Caspar Schðning,
8.i.2002. Note - this has a postero-ventral process on the petiole
and a somewhat different head shape to that shown by Gotwald
(1982) and in the Degallier specimens I show above.
Photographs of a queen collected in Kenya can be seen at
http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0172663&shot=p1&project=null;
with a male at
http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0172663&shot=p1&project=null. |
Minima
The
photomontage is of a minima specimen from Congo, Réserve
de Lésio-Louna, S 03°16'13.9" E 015°28'21.2";
6-9.xi.2007; n sp 30; pitfall trap 05, t 2.1; gallery forest;
collected by Eric Zassi. |
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