Lasius alienoflavus

Distribution
This taxon was described from India.

Nomenclature

 *  alienoflavus. Lasius alienoflavus Bingham, 1903: 341 (w.q.) INDIA. Combination in L. (Cautolasius): Wilson, 1955a: 111. See also: Collingwood, 1982: 290.

Worker
Wilson (1955) - The three specimens examined are indistinguishable from northern Eurasian Lasius flavus of comparable size except for their longer maxillary palps and the fact that segment VI is longer than segment V. The right maxillary palp of a specimen in the MCZ measured as follows: segment III 0.15 mm., IV 0.11 mm., V 0.08 mm., VI 0.09 mm. flavus workers of the same approximate size have much shorter segments: segment III probably never exceeds 0.13 mm., IV, 0.08 mm., V, 0.06 mm., or VI, 0.06 mm., and these segments are usually distinctly shorter. In this character alienoflavus sctually overlaps the lower limits of the subgenus Lasius: Lasius sitiens workers of comparable size have approximately the same segment proportions.

Type Material
Wilson (1955) - I have seen two workers in the and one in the  labelled "N. Indien, I. XXXVII (Wroughton) / L. alieno-brunneus var. alieno-flavus For." From Bingham's description and comments it seems certain that these are part of the type nest series, but they were probably sent by Forel directly to Wheeler in the AMNH without first having been examined by Bingham. I do not think therefore it would be a valid procedure to select one as lectotype. The MCZ nidotype gives the following measurements: PW 0.51 mm., HW 0.76 mm., SL 0.70 mm., 81 92, EL 0.13 mm., ommatidium number 36 and 39. A second intercalary tooth is lacking in the one exposed (left) mandible. Petiole feebly emarginate. Cephalic pubescence dilute, as described for the eastern North American population of Lasius flavus. Head shape difficult to judge at this size, apparently intermediate (eastern North American flavus-nearcticus) approaching the Lasius nearcticus form, probably also within the range of variation of the Eurasian flavus. Otherwise identical to flavus. PW of AMNH nidotypes 0.44 and 0.48 mm.