Polyrhachis orsylla

Polyrhachis orsylla
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Camponotini
Genus:	Polyrhachis
Species:	P. orsylla
Binomial name
	Polyrhachis orsylla; Smith, F., 1861
Subspecies
	Polyrhachis orsylla javanensis Santschi, 1928; Polyrhachis orsylla muscula Forel, 1901; Polyrhachis orsylla ritsemai Mayr, 1883;

Identification

A member of the Polyrhachis inermis species group in the subgenus Myrma

Kohout (2008) - Polyrhachis orsylla is undoubtedly closely related to Polyrhachis vindex. The species differ in the form of the pronotal spines which are shorter and only slightly longer than their basal widths in P. orsylla and about twice as long as their basal widths in P. vindex. Also, the sculpturation of pronotal dorsum in P. orsylla is distinctly finer, almost vague in some specimens, while in P. vindex it consists of rather distinct, more-or-less regular, striation.

In Sulawesi there are two inermis-group species:

Black throughout . . . . . Polyrhachis inermis

Body black; tibiae light to medium reddish-brown with rest of legs distinctly darker . . . . . Polyrhachis orsylla

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Indonesia (type locality), Singapore, Sulawesi.

Distribution based on AntMaps

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.

Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.

Biology

Castes

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

orsylla. Polyrhachis orsyllus Smith, F. 1861b: 39, pl. 1, figs. 6, 7 (w.) INDONESIA (Sulawesi).
- Viehmeyer, 1916a: 166 (q.).
- Combination in P. (Myrma): Viehmeyer, 1916a: 166.
- Junior synonym of vindex: Wheeler, W.M. 1924b: 254; Dorow, 1995: 41.
- Status as species: Mayr, 1862: 684; Roger, 1863b: 8; Mayr, 1863: 445; Mayr, 1867a: 54 (redescription); Dalla Torre, 1893: 266; Emery, 1896d: 380; Viehmeyer, 1916a: 166; Karavaiev, 1927e: 48; Bolton, 1995b: 353; Kohout, 2008a: 264.
- Current subspecies: javanensis, muscula, ritsemai.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Type Material

Kohout (2008) - Holotype worker. INDONESIA, SULAWESI (A. R. Wallace), Oxford University Museum of Natural History (examined).

The following notes on F. Smith type specimens have been provided by Barry Bolton (details):

Polyrhachis orsylla

Holotype worker in Oxford University Museum of Natural History. Labelled “Tond.” (= Tondano, Sulawesi) and with a Donisthorpe type-label.

References

Dorow, W. H. O. 1995. Revision of the ant genus Polyrhachis Smith, 1857 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae) on subgenus level with keys, checklist of species and bibliography. Cour. Forschungsinst. Senckenb. 185: 1-113 (page 41, Junior synonym of vindex)
Karavaiev, V. 1927f. Ameisen aus dem Indo-Australischen Gebiet. III. Zb. Prats Zool. Muz. 3:3-52 [= Tr. Ukr. Akad. Nauk Fiz.-Mat. Vidd. 7:3-52]. (page 48, Revived from synonymy)
Kohout, R.J. 2008a. A review of the Polyrhachis ants of Sulawesi with keys and descriptions of new species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. 52:255-317.
Smith, F. 1861b. Catalogue of hymenopterous insects collected by Mr. A. R. Wallace in the islands of Ceram, Celebes, Ternate, and Gilolo. [part]. J. Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. Zool. 6: 36-48 (page 39, pl. 1, figs. 6, 7 worker described)
Viehmeyer, H. 1916a [1915]. Ameisen von Singapore. Beobachtet und gesammelt von H. Overbeck. Arch. Naturgesch. (A) 81(8): 108-168 (page 166, queen described, Combination in P. (Myrma))
Wheeler, W. M. 1924c. Ants of Krakatau and other islands in the Sunda Strait. Treubia 5: 239-258 (page 254, Junior synonym of vindex)
Yamane, S., Tanaka, H.O., Hasimoto, Y., Ohashi, M., Meleng, P., Itioka, T. 2021. A list of ants from Lambir Hills National Park and its vicinity, with their biological information: Part II. Subfamilies Leptanillinae, Proceratiinae, Amblyoponinae, Ponerinae, Dorylinae, Dolichoderinae, Ectatomminae and Formicinae. Contributions from the Biological Laboratory, Kyoto University 31, 87–157.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Smith F. 1861. Catalogue of hymenopterous insects collected by Mr. A. R. Wallace in the islands of Ceram, Celebes, Ternate, and Gilolo. [part]. Journal and Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London. Zoology 6: 36-48.
Smith F. 1863. Catalogue of hymenopterous insects collected by Mr. A. R. Wallace in the islands of Mysol, Ceram, Waigiou, Bouru and Timor. Journal and Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London. Zoology 7: 6-48.