Lepisiota annandalei

Although infrequent in collections, this species seems widespread across India. Workers have mostly been hand collected from tree trunks and honey baits (Wachkoo et al., 2021).

Identification
This species has largely been misidentified as Afrotropical Lepisiota simplex due to its superficial resemblance with the latter. The small to medium-sized workers can be distinguished from the somewhat similar Lepisiota lunaris by their smooth and shiny body, a dorsally emarginate petiole and few setae on the pronotum; L. lunaris has a relatively dull and microreticulate body, a bispinose petiole and several pairs of setae scattered on the mesosoma including the propodeum (Wachkoo et al., 2021).

Distribution
India (Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, West Bengal) (Bharti et al. 2016; Wachkoo et al., 2021).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Nomenclature

 *  annandalei. Acantholepis annandalei Mukerjee, 1930: 156, fig. 4 (w.) INDIA. Combination in Lepisiota: Bolton, 1995b: 226.