Nylanderia indica

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Nylanderia indica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Tribe: Lasiini
Genus: Nylanderia
Species: N. indica
Binomial name
Nylanderia indica
(Forel, 1894)

Nylanderia indica casent0281126 p 1 high.jpg

Nylanderia indica casent0281126 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

This species seems to be generally distributed in India. It has been reported through most parts of India and Sri Lanka. The workers were collected in leaf litter, rotting wood, and underneath stones. (Wachkoo and Bharti 2015)

Identification

Wachkoo and Bharti (2015) - N. indica is similar to Nylanderia taylori, but can be separated from the latter by small eyes occupying only one-fourth of the lateral cephalic margin and subquadrate head whilst eyes are large, covering one-third of the lateral cephalic margin in N. taylori with oval head.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 31.9234° to 8.05°.

   
North
Temperate 		North
Subtropical 		Tropical South
Subtropical 		South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Oriental Region: Bangladesh, India (type locality), Nepal, Nicobar Island, Sri Lanka.
Palaearctic Region: China.

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

Castes

Worker

Wachkoo and Bharti 2015.

Queen

Wachkoo and Bharti 2015.

Male

Wachkoo and Bharti 2015.

Nomenclature

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

  • indica. Prenolepis indica Forel, 1894c: 409, fig. 4 (w.q.m.) INDIA. Imai, Baroni Urbani, et al. 1984: 9 (k.). Combination in Paratrechina (Nylanderia): Emery, 1925b: 220; in Nylanderia: LaPolla, Brady & Shattuck, 2010a: 127.

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

Description

Worker

Wachkoo and Bharti (2015) - HL 0.52-0.72 mm; HW 0.43-0.63 mm; EL 0.13-0.17 mm; SL 0.53-0.81 mm; PW 0.35-0.48 mm; PrFL 0.51-0.66 mm; PrFW 0.13-0.18 mm; WL 0.56-0.90 mm. Indices: CI 82.98-87.69; SI 123.08-133.34; REL 21.43-24.07 (n = 20).

Head is subquadrate; longer than wide, equally wide anteriorly and posteriorly, lateral margins gently convex, posterior margin shallowly concave to weakly convex with rounded posterolateral corners. Clypeus carinate; anterior clypeal margin medially concave. Eyes small, oval, weakly convex; covering one-fourth of lateral cephalic margin; three small ocelli present. Antennae long, scape surpasses posterior margin by about two-fifth their length.

Metanotal groove strongly developed, in lateral view interrupts the regular promesonotal convexity from propodeum; metanotal area distinct. Dorsal face of propodeum much shorter than declivitous face, in lateral view, propodeum lower than remainder of dorsum, dorsally angular to gently rounded. Petiole low, triangular in lateral view, inclined forward, with posterior face longer than anterior face; dorsum rounded.

Cuticle feebly shining covered with fine pubescence. Scape with scattered erect macrosetae and a dense layer of pubescence (SMC = 35e50). Erect macrosetae of varying length abundant on head and gaster, relatively sparse on pro-mesonotum. Pronotum and mesonotumwith scattered erect macrosetae of varying lengths (PMC = 5-8; MMC = 2-5).

Body is yellowish brown to reddish brown with antennae and legs usually a shade lighter.

Queen

Wachkoo and Bharti (2015) - HL 0.82-0.83 mm; HW 0.75-0.79 mm; EL 0.29-0.31 mm; SL 0.92-0.93 mm; PrFL 0.81-0.83 mm; PrFW 0.21-0.23 v; WL 1.37-1.38 mm. Indices: CI 91.27-96.00; SI 117.36- 123.53; REL 37.33-37.58 (n = 8).

Generally, matches worker description, with modifications expected for caste and the following differences: head subtriangular with shallowly concave posterior margin; anterior clypeal margin nearly straight to shallowly concave; petiole concave above; color brown with antennae and legs usually a shade lighter; body covered with much dense pubescence than in workers (SMC = 44- 62; PMC = 7-11; MMC = 48-62).

Male

Wachkoo and Bharti (2015) - HL 0.60-0.62 mm; HW 0.51-0.56 mm; EL 0.25-0.26 mm; SL 0.67-0.72 mm; PrFL 0.61-0.66 mm; PrFW 0.17- 0.18 mm; WL 0.86-0.91 mm. Indices: CI 83.64-91.07; SI 127.45- 132.61; REL 40.18-41.87 (n = 8).

Head is subquadrate; longer than wide; eyes large, convex, slightly projecting beyond head outline in full-face view; three prominent ocelli present. Antennae filiform, scapes long, surpass posterior margin by about half their length. Mandibles slender with prominent, pointed apical and small preapical tooth, remainder of masticatory margin smooth, with indistinct, rounded basal angle that seamlessly blends into inner mandibular margin.

Mesosoma modified for presence of a wing; in lateral view scutum and scutellum flat; propodeum indistinct, not higher than remainder of notum with very short dorsal face and long declivitous face; petiole as in worker.

Genitalia: Parameres broadly rounded at apices curving dorsally; apical margin large finger like projection; ventral margin small triangular; long setae extending off of parameres. Cuspi bent toward digiti, long and tubular reaching digiti dorsally with short peg-like teeth; digiti weakly paddle-shaped; covered with short peg-like teeth. Penis valves projecting but not extending parameres.

Color is yellowish-brown with darker gaster; sculpture and vestiture as in worker caste (SMC = 18-22; PMC = 0; MMC = 18- 23).

Karyotype

Explore-icon.png Explore: Show all Karyotype data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.
  • 2n = 30 (India) (Imai et al., 1984) (as Paratrechina indica).

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Chhotani O. B., and P. K. Maiti. 1977. Contribution to the knowledge of Formicidae of the Andaman Islands. Zoological Survey of India 3(1): 17-20.
  • Collingwood C.A. 1970. Formicidae (Hymenopter: Aculeata) of Nepal. Himalaya Khumbu Himal, 3: 371-388.
  • Dias R. K. S. 2002. Current knowledge on ants of Sri Lanka. ANeT Newsletter 4: 17- 21.
  • Dias R. K. S., K. R. K. A. Kosgamage, and H. A. W. S. Peiris. 2012. The Taxonomy and Conservation Status of Ants (Order: Hymenoptera, Family: Formicidae) in Sri Lanka. In: The National Red List 2012 of Sri Lanka; Conservation Status of the Fauna and Flora. Weerakoon, D.K. & S. Wijesundara Eds., Ministry of Environment, Colombo, Sri Lanka. p11-19.
  • Dias R. K. S., and K. R. K. Anuradha Kosgamage. 2012. Occurrence and species diversity of ground-dwelling worker ants (Family: Formicidae) in selected lands in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. J. Sci. Univ. Kelaniya 7: 55-72.
  • Emery C. 1901. Ameisen gesammelt in Ceylon von Dr. W. Horn 1899. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 1901: 113-122.
  • Forel A. 1894. Les Formicides de l'Empire des Indes et de Ceylan. Part IV. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 8: 396-420.
  • Forel A. 1902. Variétés myrmécologiques. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 46: 284-296.
  • Forel A. 1903. Les Formicides de l'Empire des Indes et de Ceylan. Part X. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 14: 679-715.
  • Forel A. 1903. Les fourmis des îles Andamans et Nicobares. Rapports de cette faune avec ses voisines. Rev. Suisse Zool. 11: 399-411.
  • Forel A. 1911. Ameisen aus Ceylon, gesammelt von Prof. K. Escherich (einige von Prof. E. Bugnion). Pp. 215-228 in: Escherich, K. Termitenleben auf Ceylon. Jena: Gustav Fischer, xxxii + 262 pp.
  • Forel A. 1913k. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse einer Forschungsreise nach Ostindien ausgeführt im Auftrage der Kgl. Preuss. Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin von H. v. Buttel-Reepen. II. Ameisen aus Sumatra, Java, Malacca und Ceylon. Gesammelt von Herrn Prof. Dr. v. Buttel-Reepen in den Jahren 1911-1912. Zoologische Jahrbücher. Abteilung für Systematik, Geographie und Biologie der Tiere 36:1-148.
  • Forel, A. 1908. Fourmis de Ceylan et d'Égypte récoltées par le Prof. E. Bugnion. Lasius carniolicus. Fourmis de Kerguelen. Pseudandrie? Strongylognathus testaceus. Bull. Soc. Vaudoise Sci. Nat. 44: 1-22
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  • Hua Li-zhong. 2006. List of Chinese insects Vol. IV. Pages 262-273. Sun Yat-sen university Press, Guangzhou. 539 pages.
  • Imai H. T., C. Baroni Urbani, M. Kubota, G. P. Sharma, M. H. Narasimhanna, B. C. Das, A. K. Sharma, A. Sharma, G. B. Deodikar, V. G. Vaidya, and M. R. Rajasekarasetty. 1984. Karyological survey of Indian ants. Japanese Journal of Genetics 59: 1-32.
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  • Tiwari R.N., B.G. Kundu, S. Roychowdhury, S.N. Ghosh. 1999. Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae. Pp. 211-294 in: Director; Zoological Survey of India (ed.) 1999. Fauna of West Bengal. Part 8. Insecta (Trichoptera, Thysanoptera, Neuroptera, Hymenoptera and Anoplura). Calcutta: Zoological Survey of India, iv + 442 pp.
  • Wheeler W. M. 1928. Ants collected by Professor F. Silvestri in China. Bollettino del Laboratorio di Zoologia Generale e Agraria della Reale Scuola Superiore d'Agricoltura. Portici 22: 3-38.
  • Wheeler W. M. 1929. Some ants from China and Manchuria. American Museum Novitates 361: 1-11.
  • Wheeler W. M. 1930. A list of the known Chinese ants. Peking Natural History Bulletin 5: 53-81.
  • Xu Z. H., J. G. Li, Q. Z. Fu, and Q. Z. Long. 2001. A Study on the Ant Communities on West Slope at Different Elevation of theGaoligongshan Mountain Nature Reserve in Yunnan, China. Zoological Research 22(1): 58-63.
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