Messor galla

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Messor galla
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Stenammini
Genus: Messor
Species: M. galla
Binomial name
Messor galla
(Mayr, 1904)

Messor galla casent0217873 p 1 high.jpg

Messor galla casent0217873 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

Synonyms

Bolton (1982) - Without doubt the commonest, most successful and most widely distributed Messor species in the northern half of sub-Saharan Africa. Some aspects of the biology of galla have been investigated by Levieux & Diomande (1978) and Levieux (1979). In Benin, Taylor et al. (2018) found it walking on trails on the ground (in glade among mango trees).

Identification

Of the four species in the region which lack dense gastral pilosity galla is separated from Messor collingwoodi and Messor luebberti by the extensive cephalic sculpturing of the last two. The separation of galla from its closest African relative, Messor angularis of Kenya, is tabulated under that name. (Bolton 1982)

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Ranges throughout the Sahelian zone across the entire width of the continent. On the eastern side it is found as far south as Kenya, and in the west it occurs coastally as well as in the drier northern parts of the West African states.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 17.266667° to -4.1125°.

 
North
Temperate 		North
Subtropical 		Tropical South
Subtropical 		South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia (type locality), Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen.
Palaearctic Region: Iran, Oman.

Distribution based on AntMaps

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Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.
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Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.
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Biology

Collingwood and Agosti (1996) – This subtropical species is evidently common in the cultivated valleys of the Dhofar. It appears to be uncommon in Yemen and in Saudi Arabia was not found further north than the sheltered valleys at Fayfa near the Yemen border.

Castes

Worker

Images from AntWeb

Messor galla casent0904127 h 1 high.jpgMessor galla casent0904127 p 1 high.jpgMessor galla casent0904127 d 1 high.jpgMessor galla casent0904127 l 1 high.jpg
Type of unavailable quadrinomial: Stenamma barbarum caducum gallum. Worker. Specimen code casent0904127. Photographer Will Ericson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MSNG, Genoa, Italy.
Messor galla casent0904128 h 1 high.jpgMessor galla casent0904128 p 1 high.jpgMessor galla casent0904128 d 1 high.jpgMessor galla casent0904128 l 1 high.jpg
Type of unavailable quadrinomial: Messor barbarus galla armata. Worker. Specimen code casent0904128. Photographer Will Ericson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MSNG, Genoa, Italy.
Messor galla casent0905774 h 1 high.jpgMessor galla casent0905774 p 1 high.jpgMessor galla casent0905774 d 1 high.jpgMessor galla casent0905774 l 1 high.jpg
Type of unavailable quadrinomial: Stenamma barbarum caducum gallum. Worker. Specimen code casent0905774. Photographer Will Ericson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MSNG, Genoa, Italy.
Messor galla casent0907718 h 1 high.jpgMessor galla casent0907718 p 1 high.jpgMessor galla casent0907718 d 1 high.jpgMessor galla casent0907718 l 1 high.jpg
Syntype of Messor galla rufula. Worker. Specimen code casent0907718. Photographer Z. Lieberman, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

  • galla. Stenamma (Messor) barbarum var. galla Mayr, 1904b: 5.
    • Type-material: holotype worker.
    • Type-locality: Ethiopia: Alto Ganale, Boran Galla, v.1903 (V. Bottego).
    • [Note: locality as printed; holotype label has Alto Daua, Boran Galla, v. 1903.]
    • Type-depository: MSNG.
    • [First available use of Stenamma (Messor) barbarum subsp. caduca var. galla Emery, 1895a: 179 (w.) ETHIOPIA; unavailable (infrasubspecific) name.]
    • Finzi, 1939a: 155 (q.m.).
    • Combination in Messor: Santschi, 1914d: 335.
    • As unavailable (infrasubspecific) name: Emery 1897e: 597; Forel, 1910c: 250; Karavaiev, 1911: 3; Emery, 1915g: 3; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 803; Viehmeyer, 1923: 87.
    • Subspecies of barbarus: Mayr, 1907b: 14; Santschi, 1910f: 234; Santschi, 1914d: 335; Santschi, 1917e: 92; Emery, 1921f: 70; Emery, 1922c: 98; Santschi, 1923a: 134; Weber, 1943c: 303.
    • Status as species: Santschi, 1923f: 326; Santschi, 1928f: 201; Finzi, 1939a: 155; Menozzi, 1930b: 81; Bernard, 1950b: 286; Bernard, 1980: 266; Bolton, 1982: 349 (redescription); Collingwood, 1985: 250; Bolton, 1995b: 254; Collingwood & Agosti, 1996: 317; Hita Garcia, et al. 2013: 212; Borowiec, L. 2014: 106; Madl, 2019: 15; Borowiec, L. & Salata, 2020: 11; Barech, et al. 2020: 18.
    • Senior synonym of airensis: Bolton, 1982: 350; Bolton, 1995b: 254.
    • Senior synonym of latinoda: Viehmeyer, 1923: 87; Bolton, 1982: 350; Bolton, 1995b: 254.
    • Senior synonym of nobilis: Bolton, 1982: 350; Bolton, 1995b: 254; Barech, et al. 2020: 18.
    • Senior synonym of obscurus: Fisher & Bolton, 2016: 317; Barech, et al. 2020: 18.
    • Senior synonym of rufula: Bolton, 1982: 350; Bolton, 1995b: 254.
    • Senior synonym of triempressa: Bolton, 1982: 350; Bolton, 1995b: 254.
    • Material of the unavailable names armata, rufa referred here by Bolton, 1982: 350, 349 (respectively); Bolton, 1995b: 254.
    • Distribution: Burkina Faso, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Yemen.
  • airensis. Messor galla var. airensis Bernard, 1950b: 286 (w.q.) NIGER.
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated), 1 syntype queen.
    • Type-localities: Niger: Aïr Mts, Dabaga (600 m.), 1947 (Chopard & Villiers), Aïr Mts, mountains of Baguezans (1500 m.), 1947 (Chopard & Villiers), Aïr Mts, Agadez (525 m.), 1947 (Chopard & Villiers).
    • Type-depository: unknown (presumed lost, not found in MNHN (Bolton, 1982: 350))..
    • Junior synonym of galla: Bolton, 1982: 350; Bolton, 1995b: 252.
  • latinoda. Messor barbarus st. latinoda Santschi, 1917e: 93, fig. 2 (s.w.) (no state data, East Africa?).
    • Type-material: 3 syntype workers.
    • Type-locality: “East Africa?”: (no further data) (Reichensperger).
    • Type-depository: NHMB.
    • As unavailable (infrasubspecific) name: Emery, 1922c: 98; Barech, et al. 2020: 18.
    • Subspecies of barbarus: Emery, 1921f: 71; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 803.
    • Junior synonym of galla: Viehmeyer, 1923: 87; Bolton, 1982: 350; Bolton, 1995b: 255.
  • nobilis. Messor galla st. nobilis Santschi, 1928f: 201 (w.q.) ETHIOPIA.
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated), 1 syntype queen.
    • Type-localities: workers + queen Ethiopia (“Abyssinia”): Bisa Tint, 1200 m. (Reichensperger), 4 workers Ethiopia: Harar (Ilg).
    • Type-depository: NHMB.
    • Junior synonym of galla: Bolton, 1982: 350; Bolton, 1995b: 256.
  • obscurus. Messor galla var. obscurus Menozzi & Consani, 1952: 61 (w.) ETHIOPIA (attributed to Santschi).
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
    • Type-localities: Ethiopia: Mega, 13.ix.1939 (no collector’s name), Ethiopia: El Dire, 18-21.v.1939 (no collector’s name), Ethiopia: Gondaraba, 27.v.1939 and 18.vi.1939 (no collector’s name).
    • [Note: on p. 62 Consani adds, “This variety is, in my opinion, to be considered as synonymous with the species”.]
    • Type-depository: IEUB.
    • [Messor galla var. obscurus Menozzi, 1939c: 101. Nomen nudum.]
    • Subspecies of galla: Bolton, 1995b: 256.
    • Junior synonym of galla: Fisher & Bolton, 2016: 317.
  • triimpressa. Messor galla var. triimpressa Santschi, 1930a: 58.
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
    • Type-localities: Chad (“Chari-Tchad”): Baguirmi, Techeckna (no collector’s name), Ethiopia: Harar (no collector’s name), Senegal: Casamance (Claveau).
    • Type-depositories: MNHN, NHMB.
    • [First available use of Messor barbarus st. galla var. triempressa Santschi, 1917e: 92 (w.) CHAD, ETHIOPIA, SENEGAL; unavailable (infrasubspecific) name.]
    • Santschi, 1930a: 58 (q.m.).
    • As unavailable (infrasubspecific) name: Emery, 1921f: 70; Emery, 1922c: 98; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 804.
    • Junior synonym of galla: Bolton, 1982: 350; Bolton, 1995b: 258.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Bolton (1982) - Medium to Large, HW 2.40- > 3.70.

Median portion of clypeus with anterior margin broadly but shallowly concave to more or less entire. With the head in full-face view the sides very shallowly convex to roughly straight, usually slightly convergent in front of the eyes. Occipital margin broadly indented medially. In HW range 2.40-3.76 the maximum diameter of the eye 0.44-0.68, about 0.17-0.20 x HW, and the CI range 102-114. Propodeum showing great variation; frequently with the dorsum rounding into the declivity but sometimes with a pair of broad teeth or lamellae. Between these two extremes is a range of intermediates including forms with a narrow to broad rim or flange following the curve of the surface, forms with a small to large salient angle and forms with the angle or flange projecting to various degrees. Dorsum of head smooth and shining, away from the median strip sculptured only with very widely scattered small pits or a faint superficial patterning. Median strip of head behind clypeus with longitudinal rugular sculpture which usually extends back at least as far as the level of the posterior margins of the eyes, and often distinctly further back than this; only very rarely is the rugular strip shorter. Intensity of rugulae on the median strip very variable and the width of the strip not usually exceeding the width across the frontal lobes and often narrower, only rarely slightly wider. Pronotum dorsally with weak transverse rugulae which may sometimes be very feeble or even partially effaced. Mesonotum varying from almost smooth to faintly rugulose. Propodeal dorsum generally sharply transversely rugose but in some samples the rugae diagonal, irregular or interrupted. First gastral tergite unsculptured but often showing a faint superficial patterning. With the head in full-face view the sides without projecting hairs, the occipital margin with 0-4 hairs on each side of the median impression. Generally hairs are present occipitally, specimens with zero count are very few and may be the result of abrasion. Dorsum of head sparsely hairy, the psammophore conspicuous ventrally. Parts of dorsal alitrunk with pilosity as follows; pronotum with 0-4 pairs, mesonotum with 4-10 pairs, metanotal groove with 1-2 pairs at least in large workers, propodeum with 1-5 pairs. Petiole with 1-3, postpetiole with 3-6 pairs of hairs. First gastral tergite without hairs or with a sparse transverse row at the extreme apex of the sclerite. Ventral surfaces of hind femora usually with hairs all along the shaft but in some they are denser proximally than distally. Colour reddish brown to blackish brown, usually with the gaster darker than the head and alitrunk. In some samples the head slightly more reddish than the alitrunk.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Bernard F. 1950. Contribution à l'étude de l'Aïr. Hyménoptères Formicidae. Mém. Inst. Fr. Afr. Noire 10: 284-294.
  • Bernard F. 1981. Revision of the genus Messor (harvesting ants) on a biometrical basis. Pp. 141-145 in: Howse, P. E., Clement, J.-L. (eds.) Biosystematics of social insects. Systematics Association Special Volume No. 19. London: Academic Press, 346 pp.
  • Bolton B. 1982. Afrotropical species of the myrmicine ant genera Cardiocondyla, Leptothorax, Melissotarsus, Messor and Cataulacus (Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 45: 307-370.
  • Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
  • Collingwood, C. A. and D. Agosti. 1996. Formicidae (Insects: Hymenoptera) of Saudi Arabia (Part 2) Fauna of Saudi Arabia 15: 300-385.
  • Collingwood, C. A., and Donat Agosti. "Formicidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) of Saudi Arabia (Part 2)." Fauna of Saudi Arabia 15 (1996): 300-385.
  • Diame L., B. Taylor, R. Blatrix, J. F. Vayssieres, J. Y. Rey, I. Grechi, and K. Diarra. 2017. A preliminary checklist of the ant (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) fauna of Senegal. Journal of Insect Biodiversity 5(15): 1-16.
  • Emery C. 1915. Formiche raccolte nell'Eritrea dal Prof. F. Silvestri. Bollettino del Laboratorio di Zoologia Generale e Agraria della Reale Scuola Superiore d'Agricoltura. Portici 10: 3-26.
  • Finzi B. 1939. Materiali zoologici dell'Eritrea raccolti da G. Müller durante la spedizione dell'Istituto Sieroterapico Milanese e conservati al Museo di Trieste. Parte III. Hymenoptera: Formicidae. Atti del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Trieste 14: 153-168.
  • Forel A. 1910. Ameisen aus der Kolonie Erythräa. Gesammelt von Prof. Dr. K. Escherich (nebst einigen in West-Abessinien von Herrn A. Ilg gesammelten Ameisen). Zoologische Jahrbücher. Abteilung für Systematik, Geographie und Biologie der Tiere 29: 243-274.
  • Garcia F.H., Wiesel E. and Fischer G. 2013.The Ants of Kenya (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)—Faunal Overview, First Species Checklist, Bibliography, Accounts for All Genera, and Discussion on Taxonomy and Zoogeography. Journal of East African Natural History, 101(2): 127-222
  • Ghahari H., and C. A. Collingwood. 2013. A study on the ants (Hymenoptera: Vespoidea: Formicidae) from Western Iran. Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica 48 (1): 155–164.
  • IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
  • Karavaiev V. 1911. Ameisen aus Aegypten und dem Sudan. Rus. Entomol. Obozr. 11: 1-12.
  • Kouakou L. M. M., K. Yeo, K. Ouattara, W. Dekoninck, T. Delsinne, and S. Konate. 2018. Investigating urban ant community (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in port cities and in major towns along the border in Côte d’Ivoire: a rapid assessment to detect potential introduced invasive ant species. Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences 36(1): 5793-5811.
  • Kouakou L. M. M., W. Dekoninck, M. Kone, T. Delsinne, K. Yeo, K. Ouattara, and S. Konate. 2018. Diversity and distribution of introduced and potentially invasive ant species from the three main ecoregions of Côte d’Ivoire (West Africa). Belgian Journal of Zoology 148 (1): 83–103.
  • Madl M. 2019. Notes on the ant fauna of Eritrea (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae): type specimens deposited in the Natural History Museum Vienna (Austria) and a preliminary checklist. Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien, B 121: 9-18.
  • Menozzi C. 1930. Formiche della Somalia italiana meridionale. Memorie della Società Entomologica Italiana. 9: 76-130.
  • Menozzi C. 1939. Hymenoptera Formicidae. Missione Biologica nel Paese dei Borana. 3: 97-110.
  • Menozzi C., M. Consani. 1952. Missione biologica Sagan-Omo diretta dal Prof. E. Zavattari. Hymenoptera Formicidae. Rivista di Biologia Coloniale 11: 57-71.
  • Rafinejad J., A. Zareii, K. Akbarzadeh, M. Azad, F. Biglaryan, S. Doosti, and M. M. Sedaghat. 2009. Faunestic study of ants with emphasis on the health risk of stinging ants in Qeshm Island, Iran. Iranian J. Arthropod-Borne Dis 3(1): 53-59.
  • Santschi F. 1910. Mission Gruvel et Chudeau en Mauritanie occidentale. III. Partie zoologique. Hyménoptères. 2e partie. Actes de la Société Linnéenne de Bordeaux. 64: 233-234.
  • Santschi F. 1914. Formicides de l'Afrique occidentale et australe du voyage de Mr. le Professeur F. Silvestri. Bollettino del Laboratorio di Zoologia Generale e Agraria della Reale Scuola Superiore d'Agricoltura. Portici 8: 309-385.
  • Santschi F. 1928. Descriptions de nouvelles fourmis éthiopiennes (suite). Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique Africaines. 16: 191-213.
  • Santschi, F.. "Races et variétés nouvelles du Messor barbarus L." Bulletin de la Société d' Histoire naturelle de l' Afrique du Nord 8 (1917): 89-94.
  • Sharaf M. R., B. L. Fisher, H. M. Al Dhafer, A. Polaszek, and A. S. Aldawood. 2018. Additions to the ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Oman: an updated list, new records and a description of two new species. Asian Myrmecology 10: e010004
  • Taylor B., N. Agoinon, A. Sinzogan, A. Adandonon, Y. N'Da Kouagou, S. Bello, R. Wargui, F. Anato, I. Ouagoussounon, H. Houngbo, S. Tchibozo, R. Todjhounde, and J. F. Vayssieres. 2018. Records of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Republic of Benin, with particular reference to the mango farm ecosystem. Journal of Insect Biodiversity 8(1): 006–029.
  • Taylor B., Z. A. Yefremova, V. D. Kravchenko, and G. C. Muller. 2016. The ants of Mali (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) – a historical review and new records. Entomofauna 37(35): 545‐564.
  • Tirgari S., and O. Paknia. 2004. Additional records for the Iranian fauna of Formicidae (Hymenoptera). Zoology in the Middle East 32: 115-116.
  • Viehmeyer H. 1923. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der mit Unterstützung der Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien aus der Erbschaft Treitl von F. Werner unternommenen zoologischen Expedition nach dem anglo-ägyptischen Sudan (Kordofan) 1914. VII. Hymenoptera A. Formicidae. Denkschriften der Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien. Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Klasse 98: 83-94.
  • Weber N. A. 1943. The ants of the Imatong Mountains, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 93: 263-389.
  • Wheeler W. M. 1922. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. VIII. A synonymic list of the ants of the Ethiopian region. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45: 711-1004
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