Polyrhachis bellicosa

The nesting habits of P. bellicosa appear highly diverse with collection records listing terrestrial, lignicolous and arboreal nesting sites. Two nests located at Iron Range on Cape York Peninsula were both situated about 2-4 metres above the ground and attached to tree trunks using lianas and a strong network of tendrils from other climbers for support. The nests consisted of various vegetation debris bound together by a yellowish-brown silk (Kohout 1988a, 1999; Robson & Kohout 2005, 2007; Kohout, 2012).

This species is a relatively rare species towards the northern limits of its distribution (Philippines, Malaysia and Borneo), where the very similar and rather common Polyrhachis olybria is often misidentified as P. bellicosa (see Kohout 1998: 508-509). Polyrhachis bellicosa is much more common in New Guinea, where it occurs sympatrically with Polyrhachis erosispina (Kohout, 2012).

Identification
The relationship and differences between both species were discussed in detail by Kohout (1988: 418-422).

Distribution
This taxon was described from Indonesia (Aru Island). It is also found in Philippines, Malaysia, New Guinea and Australia.

Polyrhachis bellicosa is the only member of the nominal subgenus that occurs in Australia. Its distribution extends from south-east Asia to Indonesia, New Guinea and south to Cape York Peninsula in Queensland (Kohout, 2012).

Nomenclature

 *  bellicosa. Polyrhachis bellicosus Smith, F. 1859a: 142 (w.) INDONESIA (Aru I.). Hung, 1970: 7 (m.); Kohout, 1988b: 418 (q.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1990b: 762 (l). Subspecies of bihamata: Mayr, 1862: 678. Revived status as species: Mayr, 1867a: 50. Senior synonym of crudelis: Hung, 1970: 5. See also: Kohout, 2012: 55.
 * crudelis. Polyrhachis bellicosa var. crudelis Emery, 1887a: 238 (w.) INDONESIA (Morotai I.). Junior synonym of bellicosa: Hung, 1970: 5.

Polyrhachis bellicosus type material.

Holotype worker. Type locality: INDONESIA, Aru I. (A.R. Wallace), (examined by Kohout, 2012).

Polyrhachis bellicosa crudelis type material.

Syntype workers. Type locality: INDONESIA, Mortly I. (= Morotai) (Gribodo), (examined by Kohout, 2012).

Additional References

 * Kohout, R.J. 2012. A review of the Australian Polyrhachis ants of the subgenera Myrma Billberg, Myrmatopa Forel, Myrmothrinax Forel and Polyrhachis Fr. Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum – Nature 56(1): 25-59.