Polyrhachis lamellidens

Polyrhachis lamellidens is perhaps the best known and most studied of all members of the subgenus, probably due to its occurrence in a densely populated country with easy access to colonies (see Hung, 1970: 28–29) (Kohout, 2014). The nesting habits of are different from those of other species of the subgenus with their nests usually found in rotten logs (Yano, 1911) and tree stumps (J. Fellowes, pers. comm.), but also in the ground. Their parasitic lifestyle, in relation to Camponotus japonicus Mayr (as C. herculeanus japonicus) was observed under laboratory conditions by Kohriba (1963). (Kohout, 2014)

Identification
A member of the lamellidens group of the subgenus Polyrhachis. Like Polyrhachis craddocki, this is a very morphologically stable species with no significant variation between populations.


 * Key to the subgenus Polyrhachis workers

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Taiwan. Palaearctic Region: China, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, Japan, Republic of Korea.

Polyrhachis lamellidens is known from Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China, including Hong Kong (Kohout, 2014).

Nomenclature

 *  lamellidens. Polyrhachis lamellidens Smith, F. 1874: 403 (w.) JAPAN. Donisthorpe, 1937a: 627 (q.); Koriba, 1963: 200 (l.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1970: 649 (l.); Hung, 1970: 29 (m.).

Worker
Kohout (2014) - (syntype cited first): TL c. 8.82, 7.31 – 9.07; HL 2.18 (head detached from the body), 1.78 – 2.18; HW 1.96, 1.56 – 1.96; CI 90, 88-90; SL 2.56, 2.09 – 2.65; SI 131, 130 – 136; PW 1.36, 1.03 – 1.36; PeH 1.76, 1.53 – 2.03; PeI 81, 81 – 94; MTL 3.02, 2.81 – 3.21 (1+18 measured).

Queen
Kohout (2014) - TL c. 10.08 – 10.63; HL 2.12 – 2.28; HW 1.75 – 1.87; CI 82 – 83; SL 2.31 – 2.40; SI 128 – 132; PW 2.03 – 2.18; PeH 1.18 – 1.31; PeI 53 – 62; MTL 2.87 – 3.12 (4 measured).

Male described by Hung (1970: 29); immature stages by Koriba (1963: 200) and Wheeler & Wheeler (1970: 649).