Favoritos de max_devis

Here's a take:
This species was the most common Zealleyella in the Table mountains and in Montagu. Similar to custodiens but smaller (similar to steingroeveri), legs shorter, less constricted mesosoma, all especially in the largest workers. Because of the silky silver pubescens this species was originally considered a subtaxon of custodiens (see Arnold, 1922). Pubescens are distinctly less than custodiens, however hard to separate in most pictures. Majority of custodiens, rufescens, and steingroeveri observations seem to be this species especially in the western cape area. Since Anoplolepis is not the best devised taxon, there still are taxa like Anoplolepis steingroeveri parsonsi which seems inseparable from fallax, but since fallax stands valid and was described before that subspecies I believe its enough to label this fallax for now

Equipment: LEICA M205-A stereoscopic microscope and software
LASX image stacking
Funded by project: EQC2018-004655-P
Author: Pedro J. Sandoval (University of Granada, Spain)

I was doubting a bit about the species because of the angled propodeum. But according to the density of hairs on the abdomen and habitat it does not seem to be F. gagatoides

• Posterior margin of head with numerous standing setae. nCH>4
  (not uralensis, not gagates/fusca/lemani)

• nHFex: 0-1 (not seysi(<3))

nPe: 1
nHFfl: 7 (on left and right leg)
petiole narrower
length: 9 mm

Same nest as:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/177784305

Keys to C. cursor, erect hairs on scape and gaster nearly absent compared to C. piliscapa.
piliscapa: https://www.antweb.org/bigPicture.do?name=casent0911106&shot=h&number=1
cursor from s. France: https://www.antweb.org/bigPicture.do?name=casent0106260&shot=h&number=1

Seems to be the known disjunct population of C.cursor found northwest of Madrid, separated from the France population. Mitochondrial analysis indicates it may be a separate species:
https://assets.researchsquare.com/files/rs-3013514/v1_covered_49badf57-856b-4056-9167-b5a9cf51e460.pdf?c=1686032146
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/030519789090036F

So, this is a polyergus bilateral gynandromorph! ½ worker caste (red), ½ alate (black). The mandibles, eyes, single wing, and antennae are the more obvious caste traits reflected in each half of this individual. Found them shortly after leaving the colony possibly (I found one a few feet away).
See: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/124878696
& https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/124879042