Contents Contents The Ants of Egypt
SUBFAMILY MYRMICINAE - Genus Trichomyrmex
Trichomyrmex abyssinicus (Forel)

scabriceps-group (Holcomyrmex) - one species

The subgenus Holcomyrmex was defined by Mayr (1879: 671), type species Monomorium scabriceps (as Holcomyrmex scabriceps, type location India) - see Emery's key (1915i: 190) {original description}. The main characteristics Emery listed were - antennal club much shorter than rest of funiculus, often indistinct; workers pronouncedly dimorphic. Placed in Trichomyrmex by Ward et al. (2014: 10)

Trichomyrmex abyssinicus (Forel)

return to key {link to the Hymenoptera Name Server} Type location Ethiopia (Holcomyrmex abyssinicus, n. spec., Forel, 1894b: 83, worker; Viehmeyer, 1923: 91, queen); worker & queen only described (see Bolton, 1995) .

Forel's (1894b) description is at {original description}. Viehmeyer's (1923) description of the queen as Monomorium (Parholcomyrmex) abyssinicum, from Sudan, Dilling, is at {original description}. Bolton's modern description (1987) is at {original description}

{Trichomyrmex abyssinicum}WORKER - TL 2.6-6.7 mm, HL 0.68-2.04; polymorphic, although exhibiting monophasic allometry; granivorous with heavy mandibles; colour of larger workers reddish brown to darker on head and alitrunk, gaster darker again, smaller workers much lighter, still with gaster lighter (Bolton, 1987: 321, illustrated, full-face view of both major and minor workers, profile of major).

Found right across Sahel zone, nests in ground and is granivorous.

Trichomyrmex abyssinicusThe photomontage is of the holotype worker collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0249905

This fits with the Forel (1894b) maximum size of TL 4 mm and clearly is a medium size worker.

{Trichomyrmex abyssinicus}The photomontage is of a major worker from Senegal, Andiyari; collected by B Ndiaye. 

{Trichomyrmex abyssinicus media}The photomontage is of a media worker from Senegal, Bambaraya; collected by B Ndiaye. 

{Trichomyrmex abyssinicus minor}The photomontage is of a minor worker from Senegal, Andiyari; collected by B Ndiaye. 

{Trichomyrmex abyssinicus queen}The photomontage is of a queen from Senegal, Andiyari; collected by B Ndiaye. 

{Trichomyrmex abyssinicus male}The photomontage is of a male from Senegal, Andiyari; collected by B Ndiaye. 

©2005, 2006, 2015 - Brian Taylor CBiol FRSB FRES
11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K.

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