Hello Marcus,

Many thanks for your email and information.

I was surprised to read your note that I had the wrong species identification, but I thank you for the correction.  Actually, it was the local biologists I was traveling with who identified the swarm as Matabeles, and since they had lived and worked in the area for many years, I believed them.

What specifically are the identifying characteristics of Dorylus sp.?  Can you tell for certain this is not Pachycondyla analis?  If so, I would like to issue a correction on that page and cite you as the source, if I may.

And thank you for the correction on the species nomenclature; I scoured the literature I had, and thought that Megaponera foetens was the correct name ... but it's great to be contacted by a taxonomic expert.

This was my only encounter with swarming ants there.  If I had, or ever procure, further information, I would be happy to share it with you.

Thanks again.

- Bruce



-----Original Message-----
From: Stüben <marcus.stueben@gmx.net>
To: brucem@Taos-Telecommunity.org
Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 10:27:23 +0200
Subject: Megaponera foetens or c.f. Dorylus sp.?!?

> Dear Dr. Bruce G. Marcot,
>
> with very much interest I found the following internet resource at
>
> http://www.taos-telecommunity.org/epow/EPOW-Archive/archive_2003/EPOW-0
> 30811.htm
>
> which is called to show the "Matabele Ants (Megaponera foetens),
> Ponerine ants, Family
> Formicidae, Subfamily Ponerinae, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia,
> Africa, Credit &
> Copyright: Dr. Bruce G. Marcot."
>
> Actually for me there might have been a mistake in choosing the right
> picture, I
> guess. For me the foto does't not show "Megaponera foetens" (synonym of
> the valid
> name: Pachycondyla analis), but it seems to show a Dorylus species on a
> swarm raid.
>
> Pachycondyla analis is a blackish species and has normally less
> numerous raiding
> parties. But if you have material of the species shown on the foto I
> would like to
> check it to be on the safe side.
>
> Furtheron I am interested in any location and other data where you
> might have found
> the real P. analis, because I am working on this species in my PhD.
>
> If you are interested in a cooperation, please let me know.
> With my best wishes
>
> Marcus Stüben
>
>
> Marcus Stüben (Dipl.-Biol.)
> Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften
> der Universität Würzburg (Biozentrum)
> Lehrstuhl Tierökologie und Tropenbiologie (Zoologie III)
> Am Hubland
> D-97074 Würzburg
> Germany
> Tel.: +49-(0)931-888-4355 (Institut)
> Fax:  +49-(0)931-888-4352 (Institut)
> E-Mail: marcus.stueben@gmx.net
>        stueben@biozentrum.uni-wuerzburg.de