Polyrhachis lacteipennis

Distribution
This taxon was described from India. It is also found in Turkmenistan, Nepal, Israel, Iran and United Arab Emirates.

Biology
These ants construct carton nests at the base of trees, by cementing twigs with their salivary exudates. They are one of the most commonly encountered ants in the urban regions of South India (Narendra & Kumar 2006).



Nomenclature

 *  lacteipennis. Polyrhachis lacteipennis Smith, F. 1858b: 60, pl. 4, fig. 40 (q.) INDIA. Combination in P. (Myrmhopla): Emery, 1925b: 195. Senior synonym of simplex (and its junior synonym spiniger): Bolton, 1974b: 177. Current subspecies: nominal plus obsoleta.
 * simplex. Polyrhachis simplex Mayr, 1862: 682 (q.) INDIA. Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1970: 649 (l.); Imai, Baroni Urbani, et al. 1984: 9 (k.). Combination in P. (Myrmhopla): Emery, 1925b: 196. Junior synonym of lacteipennis: Bolton, 1974b: 177. See also: Bingham, 1903: 394; Ofer, 1970: 49.