Polyrhachis aculeata

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
A member of the Polyrhachis aculeata species group in the subgenus Myrma

Kohout (2008) - Polyrhachis aculeata, Polyrhachis cybele, Polyrhachis gibbosa and Polyrhachis hemiopticoides are all quite similar. The characters separating these four species include the degree to which the posterior blinkers of the eyes are developed, general pilosity and the shape and length of the pronotal and petiolar spines. In P. aculeata and P. hemiopticoides the eyes are strongly truncate and the pronotal and petiolar spines rather long and slender. Polyrhachis aculeata has all the body surfaces covered with numerous, relatively long, erect or semierect hairs and the legs and base of the gaster reddish-brown. In P. hemiopticoides hairs are present only on the head and over the gastral apex, and the gaster and tarsi are black with only the femora and tibiae reddish-brown. Polyrhachis gibbosa differs from both species and also from P. cybele by its distinctly less truncate eyes, stubby body, shorter and thicker petiolar spines and the presence of a distinct pile of short, silvery or whitish, appressed pubescence that is abundant over most of the body surfaces, except the vertex, midline of the mesosoma and gastral dorsum. Polyrhachis gibbosa is apparently limited to Sri Lanka, while P. aculeata and P. hemiopticoides are known from India, with the latter also reported from Laos. Polyrhachis cybele occurs on Borneo, Sumatra and Sulawesi.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Philippines. Oriental Region: India.

Nomenclature

 *  aculeata. Polyrhachis aculeata Mayr, 1879: 657 (w.) INDIA. Emery, 1887a: 235 (q.); Forel, 1893c: 28 (m.). Combination in Hemioptica: Bingham, 1903: 382; in P. (Hemioptica): Wheeler, W.M. 1919e: 126; in P. (Myrma): Emery, 1925b: 205; Dorow & Kohout, 1995: 94.

Worker
Kohout (2013): Dimensions (holotype cited first): TL c. (gaster missing), 6.40-6.80; HL 1.59, 1.59-1.75; HW 1.43, 1.36-1.43; CI 84, 81-84; SL 1.93, 1.93-2.03; SI 144, 142-149; PW 1.30, 1.12-1.30; MTL 2.06, 2.06-2.21 (1+2 measured).

Type Material


Kohout (2013): I have examined two worker specimens of P. aculeata from the Mayr collection in Vienna, neither labelled as the type. However, in the original description Mayr noted ‘Ich besitze nur ein Exemplar aus Ostindien, welches ich Herrn Professor Schmidt-Göbel verdanke.’ I have therefore considered the specimen bearing a tag inscribed ‘Ind. or. Schm.’ to be the holotype of P. aculeata and labelled it accordingly. The specimen bears two additional, original labels as follows: ‘P. aculeata det. G. Mayr’ and ‘Collect. G. Mayr’. The specimen is pinned and missing the gaster, but otherwise is in relatively sound condition.