Formica ardens

Smith, F., 1858, Catalogue of the hymenopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part VI. Formicidae., London: British Museum : 17-18

62. Formica ardens .

Female. Length 8-9 lines.-Black; subopake: the flagellum and two or three of the apical joints of the tarsi pale rufo-testaceous; the clypeus, mandibles, coxae, femora and the abdomen more or less obscure rufo-piceous; the mandibles punctured and grooved at their apex, furnished with fine stout teeth; the clypeus carinated in the middle; the head delicately shagreened, a little wider than the thorax and emarginate behind. The mesothorax with a central longitudinal slightly impressed line which extends from base to apex; a similarly impressed bent line is situated half-way between the centre and the tegulae; wings fusco-hyaline, clearest towards their apical margins; the nervures fusco-ferruginous. The scale of the peduncle subquadrate, rounded, and emarginate above; the abdomen has a few scattered short pale hairs, and the apical margins of the segments narrowly rufo-piceous.

Hab. India (Deccan). (Coll. East India House.)