Südafrikanische Formiciden, gesammelt von Dr. Hans Brauns

ABSTRACT This study represents the first comprehensive treatment of Kenyan myrmecofauna, which includes a faunal overview, the first species checklist for Kenya, a bibliography, illustrated accounts for all genera, and discussions on taxonomy and biogeography. The checklist is based on material collected from several important sampling localities and literature records. The main localities include Kakamega Forest, a tropical rainforest in Western Kenya, Mpala Research Centre, a savannah region in Laikipia, Central Kenya, and Arabuko Sokoke Forest, a coastal tropical dry forest. Currently, the country is known to hold 596 species and 63 genera from 12 subfamilies. The most diverse subfamilies are Myrmicinae (311 species, 26 genera), Formicinae (107 species, 12 genera), and Ponerinae (75 species, 10 genera). Additional collections from further localities will likely increase these counts and probably reach more than 650 species. Based on the examined material, the Kenyan ant fauna consists of distinct regio...

The alpha taxonomy of the ant genus Probolomyrmex in Madagascar is revised on the basis of the worker caste. Two new species are described: P. curculiformis sp. n. and P. zahamena sp. n. and the previously known P. tani is re-described. All three species are members of the P. greavesi species group. The species descriptions include diagnoses, taxonomic discussions, high quality montage images, and distribution maps. In addition, we provide an illustrated species level identification key.

Revision of the African Ants of the Bothroponera talpa Species Complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae)

We present a revised and updated synoptic list of 44 Arabian Monomorium species, including two new species of the M. salomonis species-group: M. heggyi sp. n., and M. khalidi sp. n. We propose the following new synonyms: M. abeillei André (= M. wahibiense Collingwood & Agosti syn. n.); M. areniphilum Santschi (= M. fezzanense Collingwood & Agosti syn. n., = M. hemame Collingwood & Agosti syn. n. = M. marmule Collingwood & Agosti syn. n.); M. bicolor Emery (= M. phoenicum Santschi syn. n.); M. harithe Collingwood & Agosti (= M. najrane Collingwood & Agosti syn. n.); M. niloticum Emery (= M. matame Collingwood & Agosti syn. n.); and M. nitidiventre Emery (= M. yemene Collingwood & Agosti syn. n.). An illustrated key and distribution maps are presented for the treated species. Ecological and biological notes are given when available. The majority of Arabian Monomorium species (24) are endemic to the peninsula. All except one of the remaining species are more broadly ranging Afrotropical and Palearctic species, supporting the view of Arabia as a biogeographical crossroads between these two regions. Monomorium floricola (Jerdon), the sole species of Indomalayan origin, is recorded for the first time from the Arabian Peninsula.

This revision treats the members of the Palaearctic Tetramorium ferox species-complex on the basis of external morphology and using high precision morphometrics. With this approach we recognize five taxa and six synonyms: Tetramorium aegeum Radchenko, 1992b; Tetramorium densopilosum Radchenko & Arakelian, 1990; Tetramorium diomedeum Emery, 1908; Tetramorium ferox Ruzsky, 1903; and Tetramorium feroxoide Dlussky & Zabelin, 1985. Tetramorium laevior Menozzi, 1936 is synonymized with Tetramorium diomedeum. Tetramorium confinis Radchenko & Arakelian, 1990, Tetramorium perspicax Radchenko, 1992b, and Tetramorium ferox subsp. silhavyi Kratochvil, 1941 are synonymized with Tetramorium ferox. Tetramorium bursakovi Radchenko, 1992a is synonymized with Tetramorium feroxoide. A key and redescriptions for workers and gynes are given. SEM photos for workers and gynes of each species are provided. A morphology-based definition of the species complex for workers, gynes and males is also provided.

An illustrated catalogue of the Palaearctic types of species and subspecies described by Walter Linsenmaier in Omalus Panzer, 1801 is given. Linsenmaier described 16 species and subspecies of Omalus; most of the primary types are deposited in the collection at the Natur-Museum in Luzern, Switzerland, with the exception of four holotypes which are deposited at the Natural History Museum in London, UK; Nationalparkzentrum in Zernez, Switzerland; Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule in Zurich, Switzerland; and Museo de Naturaleza y Arqueologia in St. Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. A list of the species described and pictures of 13 primary and secondary types are presented. A synthesis of his classification is given, with comments and comparison to modern classification.

The generic classification of the ant subfamily Dorylinae is revised, with the aim of facilitating identification of easily-diagnosable monophyletic genera. The new classification is based on recent molecular phylogenetic evidence and a critical reappraisal of doryline morphology. New keys and diagnoses based on workers and males are provided, along with reviews of natural history and phylogenetic relationships, distribution maps, and a list of valid species for each lineage. Twenty-eight genera (27 extant and 1 extinct) are recognized within the subfamily, an increase from 20 in the previous classification scheme. Species classified in the polyphyletic Cerapachys and Sphinctomyrmex prior to this publication are here distributed among 9 and 3 different genera, respectively. Amyrmex and Asphinctanilloides are synonymized under Leptanilloides and the currently recognized subgenera are synonymized for Dorylus. No tribal classification is proposed for the subfamily, but several apparently monophyletic genus-groups are discussed. Valid generic names recognized here include: Acanthostichus (= Ctenopyga), Aenictogiton, Aenictus (= Paraenictus, Typhlatta), Cerapachys (= Ceratopachys), Cheliomyrmex, Chrysapace gen. rev., Cylindromyrmex (= Holcoponera, Hypocylindromyrmex, Metacylindromyrmex), Dorylus (= Alaopone syn. n., Anomma syn. n., Cosmaecetes, Dichthadia syn. n., Rhogmus syn. n., Shuckardia, Sphecomyrmex, Sphegomyrmex, Typhlopone syn. n.), Eburopone gen. n., Eciton (= Camptognatha, Holopone, Mayromyrmex), Eusphinctus gen. rev., Labidus (= Nycteresia, Pseudodichthadia), Leptanilloides (= Amyrmex syn. n., Asphinctanilloides syn. n.), Lioponera gen. rev. (= Neophyracaces syn. n., Phyracaces syn. n.), Lividopone, Neivamyrmex (= Acamatus, Woitkowskia), Neocerapachys gen. n., Nomamyrmex, Ooceraea gen. rev. (= Cysias syn. n.), Parasyscia gen. rev., †Procerapachys, Simopone, Sphinctomyrmex, Syscia gen. rev., Tanipone, Vicinopone, Yunodorylus gen. rev., Zasphinctus gen. rev. (= Aethiopopone syn. n., Nothosphinctus syn. n.).

An overview of the history of myrmecology in the Philippine archipelago is presented. Keys are provided to the 11 ant subfamilies and the 92 ant genera known from the Philippines. Eleven ant genera (12%), including 3 undescribed genera, are recorded for the first time from the Philippines. The biology and ecology of the 92 genera, illustrated by full-face and profile photo-images, of Philippine ants are summarized in the form of brief generic accounts. A bibliography of significant taxonomic and behavioral papers on Philippine ants and a checklist of valid species and subspecies and their island distributions are provided.

One of the diagnostic characters of the ponerine ant genus Brachyponera is the presence of a mandibular pit near the insertion of the mandible. This paper describes the morphology and ultrastructure of a novel intramandibular gland in B. sennaarensis, that is associated with this pit. The gland appears as a conspicuous epithelium that lines the invaginated cuticle of the pit, and that extends distally into the upper and lower outer wall of the mandible. This novel ‘mandibular pit gland’ occurs in both workers and queens, but is absent in males. At the ultrastructural level, the cytoplasm of the cylindrical secretory cells is dominated by a well-developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Apical microvilli and clear transcuticular channels allow secretion to reach the mandibular surface. Although the function of this novel gland is not yet known, the cytoplasmic organization is in line with the production of a pheromonal secretion.

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