Polyrhachis pilosa

Opportunistic in choosing its nesting sites, in recent years Polyrhachis pilosa has become increasingly common in suburban parks and gardens, with their silk nests built not only between leaves, but also in various artiﬁcial cavities around houses, including door and window frames (Kohout 2006).

Identification
Polyrhachis pilosa is similar to Polyrhachis mackayi both having an evenly convex mesosomal dorsum, a completely unarmed propodeum and subequal petiolar spines. However, the former is easily distinguished by the cover of relatively long, erect hairs on the dorsum of the head and mesosoma (Kohout 2006).

Distribution
The main distribution of P. pilosa is similar to that of Polyrhachis mackayi, reaching its southern limit at about Taree in northern New South Wales. In the north P. pilosa appears to be rather patchily distributed, with conﬁrmed records from around Townsville and as far north and west as Fourty Mile Scrub and Undara (ANA).

This taxon was described from Australia.

Abundance
Relatively common within its main range.

Type Material
Syntype workers from examined by Kohout (2006).

Type Locality Information
Wollongbar, Richmond R. NEW SOUTH WALES, col. Froggatt.