Polyrhachis aculeata

Distribution
This taxon was described from India and is also known from the Philippines.

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.

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.

Description
Kohout (2013): Worker. 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).

Additional References

 * Kohout, R.J. 2013. A review of the Polyrhachis aculeata species-group of the subgenus Myrma Billberg (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae), with keys and descriptions of new species. Australian Entomologist, 40, 137-171.
 * [] Mayr, G. 1879. Beiträge zur Ameisen-Fauna Asiens. Verhandlungen der k.k. Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 28 (1878): 645-686.