Polyrhachis diana

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Polyrhachis diana
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Tribe: Camponotini
Genus: Polyrhachis
Subgenus: Myrma
Species group: aculeata
Species complex: pubescens
Species: P. diana
Binomial name
Polyrhachis diana
Wheeler, W.M., 1909

Polyrhachis diana casent0217767 p 1 high.jpg

Polyrhachis diana casent0217767 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

Identification

A member of the Polyrhachis aculeata species group in the subgenus Myrma

Kohout (2013): When describing P. diana, Wheeler (1909) noted it was closely related to Polyrhachis latona, described from Taiwan in the same paper. He listed the more abundant and silvery pubescence, shorter thorax and the different shape of the petiole and its associated spines as characters distinguishing P. diana from P. latona. In addition to these characters, P. diana also differs from P. latona by its more distinct sculpturation of the head and mesosoma, more convex eyes, notably when viewed from behind, and transversely broader petiolar node, which lacks the intercalary tooth that is rather prominent in P. latona. Polyrhachis diana is also similar to Polyrhachis murina Emery, a species originally described from Borneo and the Philippines. Polyrhachis murina differs by its distinctly shorter pronotal spines, much finer sculpturation of the mesosomal dorsum and by having the lateral petiolar teeth extended into short spines.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Philippines (type locality).

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

Queen
Polyrhachis-dianaQH3.2x.jpgPolyrhachis-dianaQL1.6x.jpgPolyrhachis-dianaQD1.6x.jpgPolyrhachis-dianaQLabel.jpg
. Owned by Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Males and immature stages unknown.

Nomenclature

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

  • diana. Polyrhachis diana Wheeler, W.M. 1909d: 343 (w.) PHILIPPINES. Combination in P. (Myrma): Emery, 1925b: 201.

Description

Worker

Kohout (2013) - Dimensions (syntypes cited first): TL c. 6.35-7.16, 6.35-7.16; HL 1.65-1.72, 1.65-1.72; HW 1.25-1.31, 1.25-1.34; CI 76-77, 76-80; SL 2.06-2.18, 2.06-2.18; SI 161-167, 160-167; PW 1.28-1.31, 1.28-1.31; MTL 2.03-2.12, 2.03-2.12 (5+2 measured).

Type Material

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Kohout R. J. 2013. A review of the Polyrhachis aculeata species-group of the subgenus Myrma Billberg (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae), with keys and descriptions of new species. Australian Entomologist 40(3): 137-171.
  • Robson Simon Database Polyrhachis -05 Sept 2014
  • Wheeler W. M. 1909. Ants of Formosa and the Philippines. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 26: 333-345.