Formica indipicans, Jerdon, T. C., 1851

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 : 125-126

45. Formica indipicans , N. S.

Worker, 5 - 24 th of an inch long; head triangularly ovate, elevat-ed; eyes moderate; jaws strongly 3 toothed; thorax wide anteriorly, narrowed behind, with two small spines anteriorly pointing forwards, and two large ones behind, pointing upwards and backwards, and two rudimentary spines or points behind and beneath these latter; abdominal pedicle square, raised with two large upright spines, and a smaller one on each side; abdomen short; head and abdomen rufous, thorax dark glossy brown.

Female l- 3 d inch long, similar to the worker; 3 ocelli on top of head; wingless.

This Ant makes a smallest about 1 / 2 inch, or rather more, in din. meter, of some papyraceous material, which it fixes on a leaf. have opened two, each of which contained one female and 8 or 10 workers. It is very rare, and I have only seen it in Malabar.