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African Zoology Volume 56, 2021 - Issue 2
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Short communication

First record of the ant Pheidole megatron Fischer and Fisher, 2013 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Rwanda

Venuste Nsengimana1 Department of Mathematics, Science and Physical Education, College of Education, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda;2 Centre of Excellence in Biodiversity and Natural Resources Management (CoEB), College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, Kigali, RwandaCorrespondence[email protected]
ORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5963-8314
ORCID Icon,
Ann Vanderheyden3 Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (BopCo), Brussels, Belgium
,
Sophie Gombeer3 Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (BopCo), Brussels, BelgiumORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3450-1375
ORCID Icon,
Nathalie Smitz4 Royal Museum for Central Africa (BopCo), Tervuren, BelgiumORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5155-0801
ORCID Icon,
Kenny Meganck4 Royal Museum for Central Africa (BopCo), Tervuren, BelgiumORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0270-5560
ORCID Icon,
Marc De Meyer4 Royal Museum for Central Africa (BopCo), Tervuren, BelgiumORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0755-2898
ORCID Icon,
Thierry Backeljau4 Royal Museum for Central Africa (BopCo), Tervuren, Belgium;5 Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium;7 Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (Scientific Heritage Service), Brussels, Belgium
,
Brian L Fisher6 Entomology, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, United StatesORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4653-3270
ORCID Icon &
Wouter Dekoninck7 Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (Scientific Heritage Service), Brussels, Belgium
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Pages 157-161 | Received 24 Nov 2020, Accepted 05 Mar 2021, Published online: 23 Apr 2021
 
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Abstract

We present the first record of the ant Pheidole megatron Fischer and Fisher, 2013 in Rwanda, a species thought to be endemic to the Malagasy region. Specimens were collected in July 2019, in one of the houses located at Kivumu, in the center of Rwanda. They were first morphologically identified as Pheidole megatron using a recent identification key. Molecular identification through mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) confirmed the morphological identification. The Rwanda sample clustered with samples from the Comoros, and it belongs to the group megacephala. Future studies may focus on the biology and ecology of this ant species in Africa. Moreover, we suggest the screening of other African populations of Pheidole megacephala using finer genetic markers with higher mutation rates to clarify the identification and spread of the species.

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