Formica sylvicola, 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 : 126-127

46. Formica sylvicola , N. S.

Worker, 3 - 12 th inch long; head narrowed in front, and rounded behind; eyes posterior, salient; antennae inserted in front of the eyes, with a strong crest bordering their insertion internally; jaws short, with 5 teeth, the upper one much the longest and bent; thorax, wide; with two spines on its anterior angles, and two stronger ones posteriorly pointing backwards and upwards; abdominal pedicle large square ending behind in two large carved spines pointing backwards and outwards, and two points or tubercles be. hind and between them, abdomen short, oval, colour dull black, abdomen shining glaucous green.

Female, 9 - 24 th inch long, differs in the anterior thoracic spinel being apparently shorter, and in having 3 ocelli; wingless.

This Ant has the same habits as the last, but is not found except in the jungles. It appears very closely allied to F. nastata of Latreille from India, and to several other species said to be from Southern Asia; and as some of these may be found in India, I add here a brief description of them taken from St. Fargeau's work on Hymenoptera. " Formica sexspinosa, Latr . Body black, covered with a fine silky yellowish down, especially on the abdomen; head oblong; narrowed posteriorly; antennae long; posterior angles of the head salient; jaws large triangular, with 3 or 4 teeth, eyes small globular, salient, thorax with two spines anteriorly on its lateral angles, and two on the posterior extremity pointing backwards; abdominal pedicle thick, rounder in front, truncated posteriorly with 2 spines almost as large as those on the posterior extremity of thorax length 7 2 - 3 d lines (french); from Southern Asia.

" Formica nastata , Latr.

Black, finely shagreened and slightly hairy, head short; antennae long; jaws short with small teeth, and a larger curved one at the end; space between the antennae ele-vated with an arched crest on each side; eyes small, round; thorax cubical, compressed, its surface flat and the ridge on each side sharp, anteriorly wide and square with a spine on each side at the numeral angles strong, sharp, straight, and reaching to the head; its posterior part truncated with a strong spine at each angle point-ing obliquely upwards; abdominal pedicle large triangular, with its upper edge concave a small tooth in the middle, and a strong arched spine on its lateral angles directed backwards, with a little tooth beneath each.

Length 4 lines. Hab. India.