Trichomyrmex scabriceps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India, Pakistan.

Nomenclature

 * . Holcomyrmex scabriceps Mayr, 1879: 672 (w.) INDIA (West Bengal).
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-locality: India: Calcutta (Rothney).
 * Type-depository: NHMW.
 * [Misspelled as scabiceps by Emery, 1922e: 181.]
 * Bingham, 1903: 283 (s.q.m.); Imai, et al. 1984: 7 (k.).
 * Combination in Monomorium (Holcomyrmex): Emery, 1922e: 182;
 * combination in Trichomyrmex: Ward, et al. 2015: 76.
 * Status as species: Forel, 1885b: 178; Dalla Torre, 1893: 65; Forel, 1903a: 692; Rothney, 1903: 97; Bingham, 1903: 282; Emery, 1922e: 182; Donisthorpe, 1942d: 455; Chapman & Capco, 1951: 163; Ettershank, 1966: 92; Bolton, 1995b: 266; Radchenko, 1997f: 221; Tiwari, 1999: 56; Bharti, Guénard, et al. 2016: 47; Rasheed, et al. 2019: 434.
 * Senior synonym of crinicipitoscabriceps: Radchenko, 1997f: 221.
 * Distribution: India, Pakistan.
 * crinicipitoscabriceps. Holcomyrmex scabriceps var. crinicipitoscabriceps Forel, 1902c: 220 (w.) INDIA (Karnataka, West Bengal).
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-localities: India: Mysore (Rothney), Pooree (Walsh), Calcutta (no collector’s name).
 * Type-depository: MHNG.
 * Combination in Monomorium (Holcomyrmex): Emery, 1922e: 182.
 * Subspecies of scabriceps: Forel, 1903a: 693; Bingham, 1903: 283; Emery, 1922e: 182; Chapman & Capco, 1951: 163; Bolton, 1995b: 260.
 * Status as species: Ettershank, 1966: 88; Tiwari, 1999: 56 (error).
 * Junior synonym of scabriceps: Radchenko, 1997f: 221.

Description
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description (Bingham, 1903) page 282 as Holcomyrmex scabriceps.

Worker

Major

Head, thorax and pedicel reddish ferruginous; the antennae, legs and posterior node infuscate, the abdomen dark brown; head very closely and finely longitudinally striate; thorax and the nodes of the pedicel rather more coarsely transversely rugose-striate; abdomen smooth. Pilosity very sparse, soft and somewhat long on the scape of the antennae and on the tibiae of the legs, adjacent and oblique. Head rectangular, longer than broad, the sides straight, the posterior lateral angles rounded; mandibles with a few coarse striae at base; head posteriorly slightly emarginate and with a medial impressed line from the middle of the emargination to below the vertex. Thorax: the pro-mesonotum narrower than the head, rounded anteriorly and above; the basal portion of the metanotum nearly as long as the pro-mesonotum, the apex above medially subsulcate with the lateral angles more or less carinate, the posterior face of the metanotum obliquely truncate; legs slender, moderately long. Pedicel and abdomen as in the genus.

Minor

Closely resembles the major, but is of course very much smaller ; proportionately to the large pro-mesonotum, the basal portion of the metanotum is shorter than in the major. The colour varies, some specimens have the head fuscous.

Length: 3.5 - 7 mm

Queen

Head deep red ; thorax, pedicel and abdomen more or less dark brown or black, in places with reddish tinge. Head finely, densely punctate granulate; thorax and abdomen smooth and shining, some vague transverse striae on the metanotum posteriorly, and the nodes of the pedicel opaque, granulate ; wings light flavo-hyaline. For the rest the characters of the genus.

Length: 12 mm

Male

Head and abdomen black ; thorax and pedicel chestnut- brown, with the borders of the articulations yellowish ; antennae pale yellow ; legs brown, tibiae and tarsi dull yellow. Head opaque, rugulose ; thorax entirely, pedicel and abdomen smooth and shining. For the rest the characters of the genus.

Length: 7 mm

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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 * Chapman, J. W., and Capco, S. R. 1951. Check list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Asia. Monogr. Inst. Sci. Technol. Manila 1: 1-327
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