Systematic status of Plectroctena mandibularis Smith and P. conjugata Santschi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerini)

Villet, Martin H; McKitterick, L; Robertson, H G

Title: Systematic status of Plectroctena mandibularis Smith and P. conjugata Santschi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerini)
Creator: Villet, Martin H
Creator: McKitterick, L
Creator: Robertson, H G
Date Issued: 1999
Date: 1999
Type: text
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:6893
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011653
Description: Plectroctena mandibularis Smith is the type species of Plectroctena F. Smith. Because there has been some doubt about its distinctness from P. conjugata, several techniques were used to assess the systematic status of the two species. Most crucially, several colony series contained workers of both phenotypes, and where these series included queens or males, the distinguishing feature of these specimens was not consistently related to those of the workers. Queens, males and workers did not manifest qualitative differences between the taxa, and morphological variation was continuous between the two. The putative morphological basis (funicular index) for distinguishing workers of the taxa arose from allometric variation. Putatively diagnostic colour variation in males was related to latitude, but no simple pattern of morphological variation could be correlated with geographical distribution. Plectroctena conjugata is therefore considered a junior synonym of P. mandibularis.
Format: 8 pages
Format: pdf
Language: English
Relation: Villet, M.H. and McKitterick, L. and Robertson, H.G. (1999) Systematic status of Plectroctena mandibularis Smith and P. conjugata Santschi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerini). African Entomology, 7 (2). pp. 277-284.

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Villet, Martin Herrer (Prof)

RU Department of Zoology and Entomology

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