Lepisiota wroughtonii

This species appears widespread in India and has been mainly hand collected from tree trunks, by beating vegetation, from honey baits and occasionally in pitfall traps. (Wachkoo et al., 2021)

Identification
The main characters that distinguish this species from Lepisiota rothneyi, the species with which it is most likely to be confused, are a combination of a densely pubescent and dull body with few erect setae on the pronotum, whereas L. rothneyi has a sparsely pubescent and shiny body, lacking erect setae on the mesosomal dorsum. (Wachkoo et al., 2021)

Distribution
China, India (Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, West Bengal), Sri Lanka (Guénard & Dunn 2012; Bharti et al. 2016; Dias et al. 2020; Wachkoo et al. 2021).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India, Nepal, Sri Lanka. Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 * . Plagiolepis rothneyi r. wroughtonii Forel, 1902d: 292 (w.) INDIA.
 * Combination in Lepisiota: Bolton, 1995b: 229.
 * Status as species: Bingham, 1903: 321; Wachkoo et al., 2021: 241.

Taxonomic Notes
This medium-sized ant was originally described by Forel (1892) as an infraspecific taxon rothneyi r. wroughtonii and later elevated to species rank by Bingham (1903). Emery (1925) reverted it back to subspecies without any justification. Based on our examination, we consider it as a valid species and elevate it to species rank (Wachkoo et al., 2021).