Plectroctena mandibularis Smith, 1858 valid
Plectroctena mandibularis Smith, 1858a: 101, pl. 7, figs. 1-5 (eq.m.) SOUTH AFRICA. Afrotropic.
Primary type information: Primary type material: 1 syntype ergatoid queen, 1 syntype male. Primary type locality: South Africa: Port Natal (= Durban), “58/13” (Gueinzius). Primary type depository: BMNH. Primary type specimen: CASENT0902467. Type notes: 1) One syntype is an ergatoid queen, not a worker as stated in the original description (Emery, 1899d: 469 (footnote), Bolton, 1974c: 330). In the original description Smith, 1858a initially refers to the specimens as worker and male. He states, “worker not known” but goes on to say that the two were taken “in coitu”. The two BMNH specimens are certainly a male and an ergatoid queen. They were originally mounted on a single pin, the male above the ergatoid. The male has been remounted, separately. 2) BMNH accessions register gives: “1858 no. 13. Port Natal. Purchased of Stevens. Collected by Gueinzius” (Bolton (unpublished notes) 1978).
Junior synonyms
Citations
AntWeb AntWiki HOL Google Scholar