Pheidole indica

Japanese Name

Indo-oozu-ari

Mayr, G. (1879) BeitrŠge zur Ameisen-Fauna Asiens. Verhandlungen der k.k. Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 28 (1878): 645-686.

Total length of body around 4 mm in soldiers, around 2.5 mm in workers. Generally reddish brown, head and gaster darker. In soldiers: gular dentition with 3 low median projections; dorsum of head sculptured; eyes relatively large, their diameter exceeding the length of the 10th antennal segment; mesonotum raised separately from pronotum; propodeal spines directed upwards; postpetiole shorter than petiole. In workers: posterior portion of head rounded and unsculptured, with distinct occipital carina; gular dentition undeveloped; remaining features as given for soldier.

Similar to P. megacephala, P. fervens and P. noda. P. indica can be distinguished from P. megacephala by the extent of posterior cephalic sculpturation in soldiers and the separately raised mesonotum in soldiers and workers; from P. fervens, by the dark-colored body, larger eyes and upwardly directed propodeal spines in soldiers and workers; and from P. noda by the smaller postpetiole. This species is found in rather dry habitats and is common in southern Kyushu. Nest entrances sometimes involve small mounds of sand or soil particles. Total worker/soldier numbers in colonies can run to almost 1,000 individuals (Yano, pers. comm.; Iida, pers. comm.). Worker recruitment patterns were reported by Magata & Yamane (1989), and division of labor in the worker caste by Yano & Yamane (1990).

Honshu (southern part), Shikoku, Kyushu, Nansei Is; India, Sri Lanka, SE Asia.