Lepisiota bipartita

A common Middle Eastern ant. Pashaei Rad et al. (2018) found this species in Iran on river valley soil in a moderate rainfall area. It is widespread across India where specimens have been collected by hand, from honey baits and by beating vegetation (Wachkoo et al., 2021). It has adapted well in urban localities and is frequently encountered and therefore collected easily (Harshana & Dey, 2022).

Identification
Lepisiota bipartita is a medium to large sized ant. The main feature that will enable it to be distinguished from Lepisiota integra, the species with which it is most likely to be confused, is the shiny bicolored body, whereas the latter species has a dull and uniformly reddish-brown body (Wachkoo et al., 2021).

Distribution
Greece, India (Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, West Bengal), Iran, Israel, Lebanon (Bharti et al. 2016; Dad et al. 2019; Sharaf et al. 2020; Wachkoo et al. 2021).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Saudi Arabia. Oriental Region: India, Sri Lanka. Palaearctic Region: Greece, Iran, Israel, Lebanon.

Nomenclature

 *  bipartita. Formica bipartita Smith, F. 1861a: 33 (w.) LEBANON. André, 1882b: 211 (q.); Karavaiev, 1910b: 44 (m.). Combination in Acantholepis: Roger, 1863b: 11; in Lepisiota: Baroni Urbani, Bolton & Ward, 1992: 303. Junior synonym of frauenfeldi: Mayr, 1863: 394. Revived from synonymy as subspecies of frauenfeldi: André, 1882b: 211. Subspecies of frauenfeldi: Emery, 1891b: 16; Emery, 1898c: 126; Forel, 1902a: 155; Ruzsky, 1905b: 463; Santschi, 1917d: 47 (in key). Raised to species: Collingwood & Agosti, 1996: 365.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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