Acanthomyrmex padanensis

Identification
Terayama et al. (1998) - This species belongs to the Acanthomyrmex notabilis species group of Moffett (1986), which is characterized by the convex and not bilobed posterior margin of head in major workers. Within the group, this new species is easily distinguished from the others by the smooth and impunctate frons and vertex, and smaller body size (HL 1.58 mm, HW 1.60 mm) of major workers, and straight dorsal margin of petiolar node in major and minor workers.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Indonesia.

Castes
As in other species of this genus, workers and soldiers are strikingly different, with the latter having heads twice as long as that of workers. Queens in A. padanensis are ergatoid, with a general shape more similar to workers (Terayama et al. 1998). Only ergatoid queens have a spermatheca. The ergatoid queens of A. padanensis have fewer ovarioles than the winged queens of A. ferox.

Two of three colonies were polygynous, with two or more mated ergatoid queens laying eggs. There were less than 20 workers and a few soldiers per colony

Nomenclature

 *  padanensis. Acanthomyrmex padanensis Terayama, Ito & Gobin, 1998: 257, figs. 1-6, 19-21 (s.w.q.) INDONESIA (Sumatra).