Polyrhachis fruhstorferi

Specimens have been collected from fogging samples in natural and agriculturally utilized forests from 200 - 1100 m.

Identification
A member of the Polyrhachis flavicornis species group.

Kohout (2008) - Polyrhachis fruhstorferi is similar to Polyrhachis varicolor. The sculpturation in both species consists of reticulate-punctation, however, it is distinctly finer in P. varicolor. The petiolar spines in P. varicolor are longer and more slender, while in P. fruhstorferi they are rather stubby. The colour of the body in P. fruhstorferi is mostly black, with only the legs and gaster very dark reddish-brown. In contrast, the body of P. varicolor, including the antennae and legs, is distinctly orange or light reddish-brown with the tarsi, gaster and apices of the petiolar spines darker reddish-brown and the frontal carinae and lateral margins of mesosoma narrowly lined with dark brown.

Polyrhachis fruhstorferi bears a close resemblance to Polyrhachis flavicornis, a species that is widely distributed throughout South East Asia, including Borneo. In contrast, P. fruhstorferi appears to be endemic to Sulawesi. The outline and sculpturation of the head and mesosoma is very similar in both species and they have an almost identical configuration of the petiolar spines. I believe that P. fruhstorferi could prove to be just a population of P. flavicornis, but a more detailed study of the geographic variation of the latter species will be necessary to ascertain their true relationship. Polyrhachis fruhstorferi is also closely related to Polyrhachis neglecta, as detailed in the identification section for the latter species.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Sulawesi.

Nomenclature

 *  fruhstorferi. Polyrhachis fruhstorferi Emery, 1898b: 238, figs. 11, 12 (w.) INDONESIA (Sulawesi). Combination in P. (Campomyrma): Viehmeyer, 1916a: 163; in P. (Myrmatopa): Emery, 1925b: 180. Current subspecies: nominal plus torta.

Description
Kohout (2008) - Syntype workers. Type locality: INDONESIA, SULAWESI, Toli-Toli (H. Fruhstorfer), (examined).