Vollenhovia sakishimana

Japanese Name

Sakishima-umematsu-ari

Terayama, M. & Kinomura, K. (1998) Taxonomic studies of Japanese Formicidae, part 3. Genus Vollenhovia Mayr. Nature and Human Activities 2: 1-8.

Total length of workers around 2 mm. Body color yellow to pale brown; antennae and legs yellowish brown. Head width/length ratio 0.83. Mandibles each with 6 teeth. Propodeal processes dentiform. Subpetiolar process large. Head, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole shagreened; postpetiolar dorsum feebly sculptured and strongly shining; gaster and legs smooth.

This species resembles V. emeryi, but can be distinguished from it as follows: (1) head without a median black spot just behind the clypeus; (2) anterior border of postpetiolar sternum almost straight in profile. This species nests in the soil or rotten wood in forests.
This is a polygynous; on average 3.8 queens are present per nest.

Nansei Is (Sakishima Is), Ogasawara Is.