Anochetus madaraszi

Brown, WL Jr.,, 1978, Contributions toward a reclassification of the Formicidae. Part VI. Ponerinae, tribe Ponerini, subtribe Odontomachiti. Section B. Genus Anochetus and bibliography., Studia Entomologica 20, pp. 549-638 : 590

A. madaraszi ,

originally described from Sri Lanka, was later reported by Forel (1900a) from India: Kanara (Bell) and Orissa (Taylor). The Kanarese specimens were apparently accompanied by males bearing the same label data, but since males and workers (at least those in MCZ) are on different pins, the association is not confirmed as far as I am concerned. The uncertainty is compounded by the finding of 2 males closely resembling the Kanarese males, but this time from southern Luzon. These 2 males were taken from a Berlese funnel sample of leaf litter and humus run by R. A. Morse in the College of Agriculture at Los Baños, Laguna Prov., Philippines. The litter samples were brought down off nearby Mt. Makiling, and this particular sample yielded the type series (all but one specimen) of A. incultus [7].

Although these males are about the right size (TL 4.4, HL 0.80, HW (including eyes, 0.96, WL 1.75 mm) to match the workers of A. incultus , it is felt that they are so much like the Indian madaraszi males that their correspondence to incultus is questionable. In any case, most winged ants taken in berlesates usually do not come from the litter sample, but instead are night-fliers attracted to the light over the funnel while the sample is being extracted.

Thus the association of these males (figs. 64, 65), having the hypopygium produced as paired, long, thin, hairy rods; and the parameres slender, tapered apicad, and curving mesad so that their tips are opposed) with the workers of either madaraszi or incultus , must be considered doubtful. This case points up the importance in Anochetus of having workers and males securely associated in the living colony.