The Ants of India

This page is meant to serve as an index to Antwiki pages that are focused on the Indian ant fauna.

List of Indian ant species

India Identification Keys
Key to Anochetus of India

Key to Carebara of India

Key to Cerapachys of India

Key to Cryptopone of India

Key to the Lasius of the Indian Himalayas

Key to Leptogenys of India

Key to the Meranoplus of India

Key to Nylanderia of India

Key to Strumigenys of India

Cerapachys
Bharti H, Ali Akbar S. 2013b. Taxonomic studies on the ant genus Cerapachys Smith (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from India. ZooKeys 336: 79–103. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.336.5719 [[Media:Bharti & Akbar 2013.pdf|PDF]]

Twelve species are present and for convenience can be placed into arbitrary groups. Group I species with 12 segmented antennae viz., C. sulcinodis, C. anokha, C. schoedli, C. seema, C. indicus, C. aitkenii, C. wighti, C. longitarsus and C. nayana. Of the 9 species given above the first four i.e., C. sulcinodis, C. anokha, C. schoedli and C. seema, have the punctures on the dorsum of the head relatively small, separated, with their diameter smaller than the average distance separating them. Among these C. anokha, with the declivous face of the propodeum lacking cariniform margins, and C. sulcinodis, with the dorsal surface of the petiolar node with a smooth, median area are distinct species in the group. C. schoedli and C. seema are easily separated. C. seema has dull body colouration, sculpture much more prominent and coarse, pilosity denser and head almost oval, with the anterior and posterior sections of its sides converging, while C. schoedli is brightly coloured, with sculpture and pilosity reduced and the head rectangular with parallel sides. The next 3 species i.e., C. indicus, C. aitkenii and C. wighti, have the punctures on the dorsum of the head large, their diameter greater than the average distance separating them. Among these C. wighti has the smallest size (HW 0.59 mm) and relatively reduced eyes (EL 0.05 mm) whereas C. aitkenii and C. indicus are easily separated from each other on the basis of body sculpture and colouration. C. aitkenii has characteristic bicolouration and its body sculpture is foveate, whereas C. indicus is mostly piceous with bluish iridescent sheen and reduced sculpture. The remaining 2 species i.e., C. longitarsus and C. nayana are members of ‘Phyracaces lineage’ and easily recognized, with strong overhanging dorsolateral margins to the petiole. The two species are separated from each other on the basis of body colouration. C. longitarsus has characteristic bicolouration with head brown, trunk red or brown, petiole and postpetiole light to dark reddish and gaster brown or black, while C. nayana is uniformly black in colour, with mandibles, antennae and legs castaneous. Group II species have antennae with less than 12 segments viz., C. biroi, C. alii and C. besucheti. Among these C. besucheti has 11 segmented antennae while C. biroi and C. alii have 9 segmented antennae. C. biroi is characterized by its opaque body with closely spaced piligerous punctures, while C. alii has prominent foveate body sculpture.

Workers grade into a number of “atypical” reproductives. These morphologically “atypical” ant reproductives have been assigned a number of descriptive terms. However Peeters (2012) advocate use of “ergatoid queens” for all wingless reproductives that differ morphologically from workers. These ergatoid queens are formed as a response to selective pressures against long range dispersal and solitary colony foundation (Peeters and Molet 2010). Ergatoid queens have been reported previously in Cerapachys (Brown, 1975). Here we present ergatoid queens of three more species — C. nayana, C. schoedli and C. seema. In evaluating morphometric data of the three castes of C. seema i.e. worker, ergatoid queens and queen castes (Fig. 41) it is observed that ergatoid queens are closer to gynes than the workers. Further inference and analysis on the subject is beyond the scope of this paper and would require much more information. However