Myrmica fodicus, 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 : 115

21. Myrmica fodicus , N. S.

Worker, length 4 - 12 th of an inch; head rounded, triangular striated; eyes large, posterior; jaws somewhat linear, four toothed; thorax raised in front, depressed posteriorly with two small spines on each side in front, and two tubercles above these, and two large nearly horizontal spines at the posterior extremity of thorax; first abdominal pedicle long, narrow, raised behind, second raised, rounded; abdomen somewhat triangular; head, thorax, legs and abdominal pedicles marroon colour, abdomen shining brown. Female, head rather smaller proportionally, finely striated; eyes larger, three ocelli; jaws blunt without teeth; antennae scarcely longer than the head; thoracic spines less developed; abdomen larger.

This is one of the most common and abundant Ants in Malabar. I do not remember to have seen it in the Carnatic. It seldom tutors houses, but otherwise appears to take the place of Formica [[ ... ]] fessa, which is not found in Malabar. It feeds chiefly on ho-ney and other vegetable secretions, but also will take dead animal matter. It also occasionally feeds on the secretions of the, ....... [[ ... ]] also found in the train of Caterpillars feeding on leaves. It [[ ... ]] large excavations under ground, generally having the entrance [[ ... ]] the trunk of a tree, and it forms considerable heaps of fine [[ ... ]] round the mouth of the nest. It runs, unlike the last species, with its abdomen turned downwards under the abdominal pedicles. It appears to form the type of a very distinct group from the last.