Aphaenogaster annandalei

Identification
Mukerjee (1930): The species is allied to A. cristata Forel, but is sharply marked off from the latter in having transverse striations on the metanotum and in the absence of a transverse medial impression in the mesonotum. Further, the head in this species is not constricted behind the eyes as in A. cristata. It differs from A. smythiesii in the outline of the head.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Nomenclature

 * . Aphaenogaster (Attomyrma) annandalei Mukerjee, 1930: 151, fig. 1 (w.) INDIA (Himachal Pradesh).
 * Status as species: Bolton, 1995b: 68; Bharti, Guénard, et al. 2016: 33.

Description
Worker

Mukerjee (1930): Head oval, longer than broad, convex at the occiput, sides anteriorly straight, gradually narrowing posteriorly but not forming a neck; eyes small, round, placed a little in front of the middle of the sides of the head; mandibles triangular, with two apical teeth and masticatory border dentate; antennal carina convergent posteriorly; antennal and clypeal hollows deep and confluent; frontal area small, depressed; clypeus posteriorly produced between the bases of the antennae, convex in the middle, its anterior border rounded; antennae slender, the scape passing beyond the top of the head by about one-fourth of its length, joints of the flagellum longer than broad. Pronotum rounded on sides, convex above, anteriorly produced into a very short neck; pro-mesonotal suture distinct; mesonotum long, narrow, its anterior portion raised into an oval area as in A. Smythiesii Forel, the posterior portion sloping back; meso-metanotal suture well marked; thorax emarginate at the latter suture; basal portion of the metanotum elongate anteriorly con- vex from side to side, the portion between the metanotal spines and just in front of them longitudinally excavated, apical portion slightly concave; metanotal spines short, acute and directed upwards; the first node petiolate, rounded above; the second node sub-conical and higher than the first; abdomen oval.

Mandibles punctate and longitudinally striate; the head feebly reticulate- rugose, anteriorly longitudinally striate; anterior basal portion of the metanotum distinctly striate transversely; nodes and abdomen smooth and shining. A few erect hairs scattered on head and thorax; hairs more abundant on abdomen and nodes; pubescence absent. Head and thorax dark reddish brown, mandibles yellowish brows, antennae brownish yellow, legs pale yellow.

Length: 8 mm