Nylanderia taylori

This species is widespread in India. It has been reported through most parts of India and Sri Lanka (Forel 1894, Bingham 1903). The workers were collected in leaf litter, rotting wood and underneath stones. (Wachkoo and Bharti 2015)

Identification
Wachkoo and Bharti (2015) - N. taylori resembles most to Indonesian Nylanderia kraepelini, but can be easily separated from latter by larger eyes (facets > 50) and darker brown body whilst N. kraepelini is characterized by small eyes (facets < 25) and pale brown body.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka. Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  taylori. Prenolepis taylori Forel, 1894c: 410, fig. 2 (w.q.m.) INDIA. Combination in Pr. (Nylanderia): Forel, 1913d: 438; in Paratrechina (Nylanderia): Emery, 1925b: 220; in Nylanderia: LaPolla, Brady & Shattuck, 2010a: 127. Current subspecies: nominal plus levis.

Worker
Wachkoo and Bharti (2015) - HL 0.55-0.63 mm; HW 0.46-0.53 mm; EL 0.15-0.17 mm; SL 0.52-0.61 mm; PW 0.32-0.40 mm; PrFL 0.40-0.50 mm; PrFW 0.12-0.16 mm; WL 0.63-0.72 mm. Indices: CI 80.00-84.00; SI 111.90-120.45; REL 26.31-28.00 (n = 15).

Head is mostly oval; distinctly longer than wide, lateral margins strongly convex, posterior margin concave to convex with rounded posterolateral corners. Clypeus subcarinate in the middle; anterior clypeal margin shallowly concave. Eyes oval, weakly convex, large, covering one-third of lateral cephalic margin; three small ocelli present. Antennae relatively shorter, scape surpasses the posterior margin by not more than one-third their length.

Metanotal groove relatively weakly developed, in lateral view interrupts the regular promesonotal convexity from propodeum; metanotal area short. Dorsal face of propodeum much shorter than declivitous face; in lateral view, propodeum lower than remainder of dorsum, dorsally angular; declivity steep. Petiole low, inclined forward with rounded dorsum.

Overall cuticle dull and opaque covered with fine punctulae; clypeus and mesosoma relatively shining. Body covered with dense pubescence on the head and gaster, less so on the mesosoma. Scape with erect macrosetae and abundant appressed to decumbent pubescence (SMC = 30-45). Mesosoma with erect macrosetae of varying lengths (PMC = 3-6; MMC = 2-4).

Head and gaster are brown; mesosoma varies from yellow to brown; antennae and legs yellow to yellowish brown.

Queen
Wachkoo and Bharti (2015) - HL 0.73-0.74 mm; HW 0.69-0.72 mm; EL 0.24-0.25 mm; SL 0.72-0.74 mm; PrFL 0.65-0.68 mm; PrFW 0.20-0.21 mm; WL 1.20-1.30 mm. Indices: CI 94.31-97.01; SI 102.94-103.53; REL 32.84-33.15 (n = 2).

Generally matches worker description, with modifications expected for caste and the following differences: head subquadrate with concave posterior margin; petiole concave above; coloration pattern lighter than in workers with yellowbrown head, mesosoma and antennae; legs yellow; gaster brown (SMC 60 = 65; PMC = 9- 11; MMC = 47-54).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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