Corresponding author: Aijaz Ahmad Wachkoo (
Academic editor: Marek Borowiec
Taxonomy and distribution of the ant species
The ant genus
The specimens were obtained by visual searching and hand-collecting. The morphological study was conducted with a Nikon SMZ 1500 stereo zoom microscope. For digital images, an Evolution MP digital camera was used on the same microscope with Auto-Montage (Syncroscopy, a division of Synoptics Ltd.) software. The images were processed with Adobe Photoshop CS5. Specimens have been deposited in PUPAC, Punjabi University Patiala Ant Collection. Some worker specimens will be deposited in BMNH, Natural History Museum, London, U.K. and CASC, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, United States of America. Morphological terminology for genitalia follow (
HL Maximum length of head in full-face view, measured in straight line from the anterior most point of the clypeal margin to the midpoint of the vertexal margin.
HW Maximum width of head in full-face view (excluding the portion of eyes that protrudes beyond the lateral margins of the head).
EL Maximum length of eye as measured normally in oblique view of the head to show full surface of eye.
SL Maximum length of the scape excluding the basal neck and condyle.
PnW Maximum width of pronotum in dorsal view.
WL Weber’s length measured from the anterior surface of the pronotum proper (excluding the collar) to the posteriormost point of the propodeal lobes.
PL Maximum longitudinal distance in lateral view between the anterior and posterior extensions of the petiolar node, excluding the anterior and posterior condyles.
PW Maximum width of the petiole in dorsal view.
GL Length of the gaster in profile from the anteriormost point of the first gastral segment to the posteriormost point.
CI Cephalic index: HW/HL x 100.
SI Scape index: SL/HW x 100.
REL Relative eye length index: EL/HL x 100.
Head with almost parallel sides and gradually convex posterior margin, wider than long in major worker and longer than wide in minor worker; clypeus carinate in major worker and subcarinate in minor worker; anterior clypeal margin convex, medially shallowly concave to transverse; eyes prominent, situated distinctly above the midlength of lateral head margins; 3 small ocelli present; antennae 12-segmented, scapes long, distinctly longer than head length, surpass posterior margin by about one-third of their length in major worker and by half of their length in minor worker; mandibles with 5 to 7 teeth, if more than 5 teeth present, then the third tooth counting from the apex is larger and longer than the fourth; fourth tooth smaller in size than basal two in 6 -toothed specimens; fourth and fifth smaller than basal two in 7-toothed specimens. Maxillae with long hairs; basal segment of maxillae flat.
Mesosoma typical for this genus; pronotum convex; propodeum low, gradually arched, its dorsal surface distinctly longer than posterior one; propodeal spiracles distinctly slit-like, and very long; petiole obviously nodiform, with rounded node dorsum; long legs.
Surface of whole body covered with dense microreticulation, appears dull, although not strongly matt; mandibles striate with few scattered punctures.
Body with sparse standing pilosity, denser on head and the underside of gaster; pubescence minute and fine, relatively denser on mesosoma with a silvery glint; antennal funiculus with fine, short appressed to decumbent pubescence, scapes with suberect hairs; legs covered with dense macrosetae.
Head, mesosoma and node of petiole dark red; gaster black; legs a shade darker than mesosoma, almost black.
As in major worker, with modifications expected for caste and the following differences: head narrower and scapes shorter than in major worker, surpassing posterior margin by three-tenths their length; clypeus subcarinate; mesosoma enlarged, mesonotum not constricted; petiole compressed anterolaterally, narrower in profile but wider in dorsal view than in major worker; mesepimeron with a posterodorsal (epimeral) lobe that covers mesothoracic spiracle and forms a seemingly isolated plate.
Head subquadrate about as long as wide; eyes subglobulose, convex, large and bulging, breaking head outline in full-face view; 3prominent ocelli present; antennae 13-segmented, filiform, scapes long, surpass posterior margin of head by more than half their length; clypeus subcarinate in some specimens with round anterolateral corners; mandibles slender, curved and strap-like, apical tooth simple, acute, remainder without any dentition in some specimens and with well differentiated apical and basal tooth in some specimens.
Notauli absent; parapsidal lines prominent, diverging anteriorly; mesepimeron with a posterodorsal (epimeral) lobe that covers mesothoracic spiracle and forms a seemingly isolated plate; jugal lobe of hind wing absent; dorsal margin of petiole, in anterior view, shallowly concave to broadly round; propodeal declivity broadly rounded; propodeal spiracle elongate, slit shaped.
Basimeres large, broad at the base and tapering to a blunt point; in dorsal view, telomeres elongate anteroposteriorly, oval and rounded apically in lateral view covered by scrobiculae; both the basimeres and telomeres are setose; basimedialtelomeral process with flat broad parallel base, apex roughly dumbbell shaped, about one third the length of the telomere; cuspides small, triangular,with peg-like teeth on medial face, bent toward digiti; digiti smooth, much longer than cuspides, about 2 times the length of cuspides and usually bent towards each other apically; in lateral view digiti falcate and gently downcurved; penisvalva projecting with apices of each penisvalva directed posterolaterally. Subgenital plate concave and bilobed posterolaterally, with short triangular process in the centre of posterior margin.
Body covered with relatively more dense erect hairs especially on underside of gaster and parameres than in other conspecific castes, in addition to normal pubescence.
Head, mesosoma and petiole black, gaster light brown; sculpture as in worker caste.
This species most resembles
This is one of the most conspicuous ant species found commonly in arid and semiarid zones of Central and South Asia.
This species inhabits subtropical areas and is relatively easy to find because they preferentially occupy open habitats. These ants have been observed to form permanent nests in dry soil; nests can be easily located in bare ground and along roadside. Workers of this species usually forage individually and raise gaster in locomotion.
| 1 | Petiolar node squamiform, compressed longitudinally, its dorsal margin narrow (Fig. |
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| – | Petiolar node nodiform, not compressed longitudinally, dorsum broader, subquadrate (Fig. |
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| 2 | Propodeum angular, body brown | |
| – | Propodeum rounded, body reddish brown |
Financial assistance rendered by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (Grant No. 14/10/2007-ERS/RE), Govt. of India, New Delhi is gratefully acknowledged. We are also thankful to AntWeb team (
Equally contributed.
Major worker head, full face view
Major worker body, lateral view
Major worker body, dorsal view
Minor worker head, full face view
Minor worker body, lateral view
Minor worker body, dorsal view
Queen head, full face view
Queen body, lateral view
Queen body, dorsal view
Male head, full face view
Male body, lateral view
Male body, dorsal view
Male, genitalia
Worker head, full face view
Worker body, lateral view
Worker body, dorsal view