The Ants of Africa
Genus Tapinoma
Tapinoma schultzei (Forel)
{Tapinoma schultzei}

Tapinoma schultzei (Forel)

return to key {link to the Hymenoptera Name Server}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 {original description}. Santschi's (1914b) illustrated description of the sexual forms is at {original description}.

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."


{Tapinoma schultzei}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 - {original description}

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© 2007 - Brian Taylor CBiol FIBiol FRES
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