Bothroponera tesseronoda

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India, Sri Lanka.

Biology
Gamergates are the normal reproductives in this species. Colonies (n = 9) consisted of 102 (± SD 28) workers on average, with one to eight gamergates (inseminated and egg-laying workers) per colony (Ito 2010). In Srilanka, these ants are mainly found in the dry zone and are found nesting under leaf litter, Large legs, and within tree roots. A nest has a few chambers which are mainly used to house brood. Similar to other Ponerinae larvae, B.tesseronoda have active larvae which directly feed on insects with their strong mouthparts. The ants are found to be hunting millipedes, crickets, leaf litter-dwelling roaches, and other small insects. They are a calm ant species who usually keep out of trouble but will deliver a sting if tried to pick up. The pain usually lasts a few minutes and then the area that gets stung gets partially swollen and itchy.

Nomenclature

 * . Ponera tesseronoda Emery, 1877b: 368 (w.) INDIA (West Bengal).
 * [Misspelled as tesserinoda by Mayr, 1879: 663, Dalla Torre, 1893: 37, Emery, 1893f: 242, and many others.]
 * Forel, 1900d: 325 (m.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1976a: 46 (l.).
 * Combination in Pachycondyla (Bothroponera): Emery, 1901a: 46;
 * combination in Bothroponera: Forel, 1891b: 124; Joma & Mackay, 2013: 2; Schmidt, C.A. & Shattuck, 2014: 77.
 * Status as species: Mayr, 1879: 663 (redescription); Forel, 1885b: 177; Mayr, 1897: 424; Dalla Torre, 1893: 37; Emery, 1893f: 242; Forel, 1900d: 325; Emery, 1901f: 113; Rothney, 1903: 96; Bingham, 1903: 97; Forel, 1906b: 91; Forel, 1907a: 6; Forel, 1908a: 1; Emery, 1911d: 78; Forel, 1911i: 216; Forel, 1913k: 7; Menozzi, 1939a: 328; Teranishi, 1940: 66; Donisthorpe, 1942d: 449; Chapman & Capco, 1951: 51; Maschwitz, et al. 1974: 113; Bolton, 1995b: 310; Tiwari, 1999: 28; Bharti, Guénard, et al. 2016: 49.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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 * 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.
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