Ponera indica Bharti & Wachkoo, 2012

Bharti, Himender & Rilta, Joginder Singh, 2015, Taxonomic studies on the ant genus Ponera Latreille, 1804 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), with the description of a new species from India, ZooKeys 526, pp. 9-18 : 11

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Formicidae

Ponera indica Bharti & Wachkoo, 2012

Material examined.

India, Sikkim: Phadamchen, 27°12.75'N, 88°37.22'E, 1040 m, leaf litter, Winkler, 1 June 2012, 13 workers and 1 queen, Joginder Singh leg. Holotype worker with labels, "India, Himachal Pradesh, Terrace, 31.9234°N, 75.9294°E, 430 m, 12 October, 2008, Winkler". Paratypes: 5 workers with same data as of Holotype, 1 worker and 1 gyne, India, Himachal Pradesh, Andretta, 32.0744°N, 76.5856°E, 940 m, 11 June, 2010, hand picking; 5 workers, India, Himachal Pradesh, Mandi, 31.7080°N 76.9318°E?, 800 m, 27 June, 2010, soil core (PUAC).

Remarks.

The Ponera indica material collected from Sikkim (north-eastern Himalaya) possibly represents a divergent population, as the species was originally described from north-western part of Himalaya. At present, the morphological differences outlined do not substantiate its status as a distinct species. The intraspecific variation includes: head rectangular in shape, occipital margin concave; mandibles each with three well- developed teeth followed by small denticles; fenestra in subpetiolar process circular; standing pilosity sparse; eyes composed of 1-2 indistinct facets; apex of scape does not reach the midpoint of posterior cephalic margin, CI 86.67-90.69; LPI 59.25-75; DPI 104.76-160. However, in the population representing type material of Ponera indica , the head is more oval in shape, the occipital margin straight; and the mandibles each with three well-developed teeth and without small denticles; the subpetiolar fenestra is oval in shape, and pilosity is abundant, eyes composed of 3-4 indistinct facets; apex of scape reaches the posterior cephalic margin, CI 91.3-97.8; LPI 34.5-40; DPI 200-266.7.