Africa Wild

Subfamily Ponerinae

The Ponerine subfamily is widespread around the world, and includes species from as small as 4 mm to a South American species that is well over 35 mm long. They all have a single-jointed waist ('petiole') and all have a restriction between the first and second segments of the gaster. The colonies are usually small, with exceptions such as the infamous Matabele ants that thrive in nests numbering thousands. Ponerines are always carnivorous and hunt other insects for food. They are armed with stings that can be painful.
Pedicel of a single segment, with a narrow connection to the gaster (the helcium) so that the petiole has a distinct posterior face. Eyes usually present; clypeus well developed so that the antennal insertions are some distance behind the anterior margin of the head. Genae usually not carinate. Frontal carinae at least partially cover the antennal insertions, forming simple short semicircles or blunt trinagles. Pygidium never impressed or armed with spines or denticles. Alitrunk dorsally usually with at least one suture.
As defined by Bolton (2003), workers of this subfamily can be distinguished by the following traits:
• outer borders of frontal lobes forming short semicircles or triangles, and having a pinched -in appearance posteriorly
• promesonotal suture flexible
• constriction present between abdominal segments 3 and 4, but segment 3 not markedly reduced in size compared to segment 4 (i.e., postpetiole absent)
• abdominal segments 3 and 4 with tergosternal fusion; and (3) sting well developed.

Links:
http://www.antweb.org/description.do?su ... =worldants
http://antsofafrica.org/ant_species_201 ... erinae.htm

Matabele Ant Pachycondyla analis, Megaponera foetens
Subfamily: Vespoidea. Family: Formicidae. Subfamily: Ponerinae

© BluTuna
Kruger National Park, S39

Pachycondyla are medium to large ants. Usually quite coarsely sculptured and dark in colour. Head with large mandibles, usually dentate, with six or seven teeth, but may be more or less, sometimes reduced to four or five. Alitrunk with promesonotal suture present and mobile, metanotal suture sometimes absent. Petiole large, often thick and nodiform. Middle and hind tibiae each with a large pectinate and a small simple spur.
Most are general predators or scavengers, with some specializing in hunting termites.

Description
Each individual ant measures between 10 mm and 20 mm depending on the caste. The larger worker, measuring up to 17 mm long, is dull black with fine yellow hairs all over its body; while the smaller is only 10 mm long and seems to be more shiny than the major worker. The major worker Matabele ant has large, toothed mandibles. The queen, about 20 mm long, looks much like a major worker but with a stouter abdomen. Pupae are contained in cocoons. Nests are underground, the entrances a simple hole without mound.

Distribution
The Matabele ant occurs throughout Africa south of the Sahara, from West Africa, including the Ivory Coast and Ghana, to East Africa and South Africa. This ant is quite common in Northern Kruger.

Habitat
The Matabele ant is found in savanna areas and tropical dry forests, where it co-occurs with the termite species on which it preys. The Matabele ant nests underground, beneath rocks, on trees, in open fields and in deserted termite mounds. Nests can descend up to 70 centimetres below the surface.

Biology
They live in colonies up to 20 million in size, with caste-formation and division of labour.
Their food consists almost exclusively of the larger species of termites. Matabele ants raid as well-organized small armies of major and minor workers marching in columns to invide termitaria. They attack and sting termites in their nests, drag them maimed and dying to the outside, then dive in for more attacks. After each worker has secured 5-6 termites, they reassemble at the surface and carry off their prey to the nest. These termites will be ripped apart and fed to the queen, the males, the larvae and other members in the nest.

Links: ARKive; The Ants of Africa SUBFAMILY PONERINAE - Genus Pachycondyla keys

© BluTuna

© BluTuna

© BluTuna

© BluTuna
Shingwedzi, Kruger National Park

Subfamily Dorylinae (Army ants, Driver ants, Legionary ants)

The subfamily Dorylinae now is monotribic and monogeneric. The Dorylines are considered to be a primitive ant subfamily. Dorylines are unique amongst ants for their very strange reproductive castes. The queens are huge: they are the largest individuals amongst all South African ants, measuring up to about 35 mm in length. They clearly cannot fly, so Driver ant colonies must spread by ‘budding’, ie females are mated in the nest and move out with some workers to form new colonies. In fact the queens resemble termite queens more than ant queens, enormous sausage-like egg-laying machines that get carried by hundreds of workers when the colonies move on.
Male Driver ants are also enormous, compared to the workers. From 25 to 30 mm in length, they cause alarm when they fly into lights at night. They curl their gasters threateningly when caught, and gnash their mandibles together, but they are harmless.

Diagnostic Features Genus Dorylus:
All species polymorphic, with four or five worker classes, the largest usually functioning as soldiers. Eyes absent. Mandibles with the apical tooth long and acute (although the point is often worn away in older individuals), at least one other tooth on inner margin, usually more but larger workers with fewer teeth. Clypeus reduced so that antennal insertions are very close to the anterior margin of the head. Frontal carinae raised leaving the condylar bulbs of antennae exposed in dorsal view. Propodeum with its spiracle situated high on the side and far forward. Promesonotal suture present, mobile, metanotal groove absent. Pedicel of a single segment, but first gastral segment smaller than second. Pygidium impressed and armed at each side with a tooth or spine.

Links:
http://antsofafrica.org/ant_species_201 ... ylinae.htm

Red Driver Ant Dorylus helvolus
Superfamily Vespoidea. Family: Formicidae. Subfamily: Dorylinae

© BluTuna
Winged male

© BluTuna
Kruger National Park, Balule camp

Description
Minute to very large (body length of workers 2-8 mm, reproductives 40-50 mm).
Workers are reddish brown, without eyes, head squarish, sting non-functional. Antennae are short and thick.
Males are winged and much larger than the workers, about 40 mm long. Head and thorax furry, wings clear, abdomen and mandibles enlarged.

Distribution
Widely spread throughout Africa.

Habitat
Forest fringe, open woodland; nomadic, subterranean.

Biology
They live in large colonies. They exhibit the specialized subterranean predation that is typical of most other army ants. Driver ants feed on carrion, live termites, and other prey below-ground, including small mammals.

© Richprins
Marloth Park, June 2020

Links: Ants of Africa

Red Driver Ant Dorylus fulvus badius
Superfamily Vespoidea. Family: Formicidae. Subfamily: Dorylinae

© ExFmem
Winged male, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Description
The posterior border of the pronotum is angularly emaginated, while in Dorylus fimbriatus the posterior border of the pronotum is arcuate.

Mandibles piceous brown, scape of antenna, head and thorax dark castaneous red, but getting gradually lighter from the head to the petiole; abdomen dark brownish yellow, or ochreous with a slight reddish tinge; legs ferruginous; funiculus dark brown above, lighter underneath. Head, thorax and abdomen very shining, except the anterior third of the head, the vertical anterior face of the pronotum, the mesopleura, the petiole and the propodeum, which are duller, owing to a rugulosity of the surface which is almost microscopic on the head, but somewhat stronger on the other parts. Head sparsely punctured, with small, discrete and shallow punctures; scape of antenna more coarsely punctured. Pro- and mesonotum sparsely, but much more coarsely punctured than the head. Propodeum and petiole very shallowly and more closely punctured, the punctures being smaller than on the pronotum. Gaster finely and sparsely punctured. A short, yellow pubescent hair is inserted in each puncture, those on the head being very fine.
Head very slightly narrowed posteriorly, the sides are almost parallel, posterior margin shallowly arcuate. Mandibles sub-nitidulous, striato-punctate, the apex sub-acute, the pre-apical tooth small and blunt, the sub-apical very obtuse or represented only by a swelling on the margin. The frontal carinae are considerably raised, divergent and vertical, in front, and project distinctly over the very short clypeus; they are angularly bent just above the antennal sockets, so that their posterior half is horizontal. Between them posteriorly is a very smooth and shining oval area, which is continued into a, moderately deep groove with rounded margins which becomes very faint on the vertex, and again deepens towards the occipital margin. The frontal carinae are not spinously produced backwards as in helvolus and affinis. Antennae 11-jointed; the scape is strongly incrassate towards the apex, and not longer than the first 7 joints of the funiculus. The 1st joint of the funiculus very short and about as long as wide, all the other joints except the apical much wider than long; all the joints closely punctured and densely pubescent beneath.
Pronotum narrowed and depressed anteriorly to form a short neck; it is widest behind this part and. narrows towards the mesonotum, from which it is separated by a distinct and angular suture. The mesonotum widens posteriorly, where it is two-thirds wider than long. The propodeum is widest at its base (on each side of which lies a prominent spiracle), and narrows but slightly towards the short and vertical declivity; the brow of the latter is considerably rounded above and at the corners. The dorsum of the propodeum has a longitudinal median impression. Seen from the side, the dorsum of the whole thorax is flat and rather distinctly delimited from the sides, which are vertical or nearly so.
The node of the petiole is almost sub-quadrate, or a little wider behind than in front, as long as, or only very little longer than wide, all the angles strongly rounded; the ventral lamella is produced into a triangular projection.
The gaster widens gradually towards the apical margin of the 3rd segment, all the segments wider than long. The pygidial area of the 5th segment is dull and only shallowly impressed, forming a more or less oval fovea, not semi-circular or bounded by a sharp raised margin, as in the subgenus Dorylus. By this character, and also by the longer petiole and the frontal carinae without spines, all the workers of this species can be distinguished at a glance from those of the subgenus Dorylus.
Worker minor - TL 8-3 mm. In these the colour is much lighter, or more or less reddish yellow. Antennae 11-jointed, as in the maxima. Proportionately the head is wider in front than in the maxima. The puncturation is finer and the pubescence is more apparent. In the smaller forms, the frontal carinae project further forwards and are more convergent posteriorly, or even meet to form a single lamina. The median impression on the head is much shallower and shorter, or almost obsolete. The mandibles are more shining, with three teeth more acute and distinctly defined.
Worker minima. It is probable that there are some of this class, and measuring less than the smallest of the minor class.

Distribution
South Africa, Western Cape and Northern Cape, Gauteng, Kruger National Park.

Links: Ants of Africa

© Tina
Kieliekrankie, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Family Mutillidae (Velvet Ants)

Description
Small to medium (body length 3-18 mm) wasps, ant-like in appearance. Antennae not elbowed. Very hairy and usually black, often with reddish brown thorax and combination of red, yellow, white or silver spots or bands on abdomen. Most species with a dark red thorax, and black abdomen marked with white spots or bands. The thorax is hard and difficult to pierce. Body extremely hard and coarsely punctured, covered with soft velvety hairs. The females are wingless with box-like thorax and may often be seen running about restlessly in hot sunshine. The males of most species have dark wings with a metallic sheen. Velvet ants exhibit extreme sexual dimorphism; the males and females are so different, it is almost impossible to associate the two sexes of a species unless they are captured while mating. Females are armed with strong curved stings and can inflict a painful wound.

Distribution
Cosmopolitan, but more diverse in the tropics.

Diversity
Afrotropical region: 1116 species; Australasian region: 306 species; Nearctic region: 435 species; Neotropical region: 1212 species; Oriental region: 637 species; Palearctic region: 524 species; World: 4230 species.

Biology
Ectoparasitoids of larvae or pupa of other insects.

Links:
http://www.waspweb.org/vespoidea/Mutillidae/index.htm

Velvet Ant Smicromyrme atropos
Superfamily: Vespoidea; Family: Mutillidae; Subfamily: Mutillinae. Tribe: Mutillini. Subtribe: Smicromyrmina

© BluTuna
Male. Crocodile Bridge Camp, Kruger National Park

Mutilla atropos was originally described by Smith (1855) from Port Natal [South Africa] and later the species was transferred to the genus Smicromyrme Thomson, 1870. This species was also described as Mutilla albistyla from Pretoria by Saussure in Distant's publication "Naturalist in Transvaal, 1892, p. 225, pl.4 fig.7). The name albistyla is considered by Bischoff (1920) as a subspecies of Smicromyrme atropos, ranging from Transvaal to northern Africa.

Description
Only males are winged. Males and females are differently coloured.
Male: Black, the eyes emarginate, the head rugose. Thorax coarsely rugose; the prothorax clothed with black pubescence; the scutellum elevated and sparingly covered with black pubescense. Metathorax with central loditunial carina. Wings metallicdark brown with purple iridescense. Abdomen shining, slightly punctured, thinly covered with black pubescense; white velvety band of pubescense on the third segment.

Distribution
Mozambique, South Africa.

Links: WaspWeb; Catalogue of Hymenopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum. Frederick Smith

Velvet Ant possibly Trogaspidia major
Superfamily: Vespoidea; Family: Mutillidae; Subfamily: Mutillinae. Tribe: Mutillini. Subtribe: Smicromyrmina

© Toko
Female, Tembe Elephant Park

A first attempt to split the African members of the taxonomically highly heterogeneous genus Trogaspidia Ashmead 1899 was made by BISCHOFF (1920). He established two species groups of males and seven groups of females, using different characters for the two sexes (the presence/lack of a median carina on the last tergite, in males, and the abdominal vestiture pattern, in females), although he was unabie to correlate the sexes of the respective groups.

Description Genus Trogaspida
Female: Clypeus with apical half folded clearly concave and a tubercle at the base. Labrum with 2 lateral teeth. Inside edge of the mandibles with low preapical tooth. Scutellar tubercle distinct. Middle and hind tibia with 2 rows of fine spines. 3rd and 4th or only 3rd tergite with pale band, whole or broken in the middle. Abdominal tergites may have two spots. Black body with reddish thorax.

Biology
Ectoparasitoids of larvae or pupa of other insects. Diurnal. Pronounced sexual dimorphism is evident.


The wasp family Mutillidae includes 4603 valid species in 220 genera. Their common name, velvet ants, comes from the dense pilosity all over their body as well as from the wingless nature of females (males are, except few exceptions, winged), which remind worker ants.
They display sveral defensive strategies and are largely immune to predation by vertebrates. Almost all of species studied to date have the ability to stridulate by rubbing a scraper on the gaster tergite II against a file on gaster tergite III. This stridulation is believed to primarily serve as deterrent to the attack of predators. Mutillids also express different patterns of aposematic coloration. Females possess the longest sting compared to their body size among stinging wasps, bees and ants, have a remarkably strong exoskeleton, Zn-enriched mandibles (which effects their hardness), and are heavily poisonous.
They are ectoparasitoids (natural enemies attacking one victim during a life-stage, eliminating its fitness) of developmental stages of other insects. The vast majority of reported hosts belong to other aculeate Hymenoptera. Female mutillids normally attack the larvae or pupae of their hosts, and especially parasitize species which enclose the offspring in concealed places such as brood cells within nests or buried or exposed oothecae and cocoons. Females of species attacking bees and wasps are often observed patrolling the soil patches where high densities of host nests occur.

Links: Ants of Africa
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/artic ... ne.0238888

Family Pompilidae (Spider-hunting Wasps)

Active, small to very large, long-legged wasps, rear margin of pronotum reaching base of fore wings, antennae often curled. Most species have glossy blue, black or brown bodies, sometimes with yellow or orange markings. Most species have glossy blue, black or brown bodies, sometimes with yellow or orange markings. Wings may be black with a blue sheen, orange to red or transparent. A few species are wingless. Males are usually smaller, with longer antennae, and are sometimes differently coloured from females.
Females run about on the ground flicking and jerking their wings. They provision their nests with one paralyzed spider per cell or, in some species, lay their eggs on prey caught by other pompilids.

Distribution
Worldwide. Highest species richness in tropical and subtropical regions.

Diversity
Worldwide: 5000 species in 230 genera.

Biology
Predators of spiders. A single egg is layed on or in the abdomen of a spider that has been paralysed by the sting of the female wasp, either in the spider's own burrow or on a spider that has been paralysed, dragged and placed in a secluded crack, crevice, excavated burrow, or mud nest made by the wasp. Some species are cleptoparasites of other species, laying their egg on a previously paralysed and concealed spider.
With most species of the Pompilidae, the female wasp lays only one egg on a single spider. The larger the species of wasp, the larger the spider required. The size of the spider prey determines whether the egg will give rise to a male or female wasp. Smaller prey results in an unfertilised and male-producing egg and larger prey in fertilised and female-producing egg.
After stinging its prey, the pompilid wasp drags its paralysed prey to a nesting site. The wasp does this by grasping the immobilised spider by an appendage such as a chelicerus (jaw) or leg, and drags it backwards over the ground, face to face with its prey. Once the nesting site has been reached, the prey is hidden about 25 cm from it and nest excavation begins. This the female wasp does this with her front legs that are well equipped with a row of stout spines that serve as efficient rakes. The front legs alternate and the abdomen is held up to allow the excavated material to pile up behind the wasp. Once the burrow is deep enough, the wasp drags the prey backwards into the nest and places it facing towards the burrow entrance. A single egg is then laid on the spider's abdomen.
This done, the pompilid wasp emerges, grooms herself and then proceeds to close the burrow. All but the cell containing the egg and spider is filled with earth. The wasp backs into the burrow, draws in the previously excavated soil, passes it underneath her body and using her legs, packs it into place behind her. As she packs, she moves forward, out of the burrow. Once the burrow is filled in, the wasp proceeds to tamp down the earth using her abdomen. Flexing at the "knees", the body and antennae vibrate so rapidly they become a blur of activity and the sound is clearly audible. Great care is then taken to level off the entrance of the burrow and the wasp intermittently flies up and does a short circuit to inspect her site from the air, and goes back and makes the necessary improvements. If not satisfied with her site inspection, she bites earth from a quarry site next to the nest and spreads out the earth, tamping it down all the time. Finally, loose debris is scattered on the site and she then grooms herself again and flies off. In her life of a few weeks, the female pompilid wasp will construct further nests.
In the darkness of its underground cell, the pompilid wasp egg hatches after about 2 days and eats all the soft tissue of the spider, starting with the abdomen and eventually leaving only the hollow cephalothorax and legs. After about 7 days, It then spins a silken cocoon and pupates within, and emerges as an adult wasp the following summer.

Links:
http://www.waspweb.org/Vespoidea/Pompilidae/

Subfamily Pepsinae

This cosmopolitan subfamily includes over 2000 species in about 100 genera. It includes some of the largest pompilids; many are black with orange-red wings.
Metasomal sternum 2 with distinct sharp transverse groove, but male often without sharp groove. Fore wing with vein CuI simple at base, without any definite downward deflection (second discal cell (2D) without a posterior "pocket")

Biology
Females hunt a variety of spiders with the larger pompilids targeting Baboon spiders (Theraphosidae) and Rain spiders (Palystes). The paralysed spiders are dragged to a pre-excavated burrow, where they lay an egg on the spider. On hatching the larva feeds on the preserved prey item. Species of Hemipepsis are important specialist pollinators of a diverse assemblage of African plants.

Links: WaspWeb