Formica cinerascens

Jerdon, T. C., 1851, A catalogue of the species of ants found in southern India., Madras Journal of Literature and Science 17, pp. 103-127 : 123

38. Formica cinerascens , Fabr.?

Worker, length 3 - 8 th of an inch; head large, eyes rather small posterior; jaws strongly toothed; thorax wide in front, narrowed behind with 2 glands on each side above; abdominal pedicle elevated, conic; abdomen oval; colour dull black, except the abdomen, which is glaucous green, and somewhat pubescent.

Female 1 / 2 inch long nearly; head smaller, thorax not so wide; abdomen long, oval; wings not reaching to the end of abdomen.

Male 3 - 12 th inch long; similar in form to the female, but with much narrower abdomen, and head still smaller proportionally. Warrior, 5 - 12 th of an inch long; head large; antennae short; eyes minute. '

This species lives in the ground in small societies. I have only seen it in the Carnatic. It is described as having the head fulvous, and a triangular spot on the abdomen, but as it is said by Fabricius to have been sent from Tranquebar, in the vicinity of which I have seen our present species, I think they are probably identical, and that the difference of colour is accidental, especially as there are only two species common in the Carnatic with glaucous abdomen, this and our F. rufoglauca .