Vombisidris

These rare ants nest and forage arboreally and little is known about their biology. The few nests which have been found were in twigs.

Identification
The sides of the head behind the eyes have an elongate ridge or groove on each side which starts at the mandibles, runs the length of the head and ends near the upper corners, and touches the lower surface of the eye. In side view, the petiole has a distinct, arched node on its upper surface.

The distinctive ridge or groove on the sides of the head behind the eyes combined with the high, arching petiolar node will separate these ants from all other ant genera.

Distribution
Eastern India to Queensland, Australia.

Castes


Worker of V. renateae from Queensland.

Nomenclature

 *  VOMBISIDRIS [Myrmicinae: Formicoxenini]
 * Vombisidris Bolton, 1991: 1. Type-species: Vombisidris philax, by original designation.

Additional References

 * Bolton, B. 1991. New myrmicine genera from the Oriental Region (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Syst. Entomol. 16: 1-13
 * 🇦🇹 (1989) Australian ants of the genus Leptothorax Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, 27: 605-610.