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 : 588-589

[15] Anochetus madaraszi

The Anochetus species known to occur in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) are nietneri [19], yerburyi [14], madaraszi , and longifossatus [18], based on workers and queens, and the two Walker species pangens and consultons, based on males taken independently - presumably at light.

We might reasonably expect that other species found in southern India would also inhabit Sri Lanka, e.g., rufus , obscurior , kanariensis , sedilloti , and especially the widespread graeffei [14], but despite rather intensive ant collecting there over the years, only the 6 species listed above have been found so far as I am aware.

A. consultons , placed by Donisthorpe in Euponera subgenus Brachyponera , is known only from the type [BMNH-London], labeled «Ceylon». It seems to be an Anochetus . TL 4.7, HL 0.73, HW (including eyes) 0.95, WL 1.82, forewing L 3.8 mm.

Compound eyes very large, occupying the sides of the head from near mandibular insertions almost to lateral ocelli. Ocelli very large, situated on strong eminence; median ocellus W about 0.16 mm. Mandibles very small, triangular, L about 0.05 mm, difficult to distinguish from other mouthparts.

Trunk bulky, with high, rounded scutellum; scutum with notauli forming a distinct Y, but shallow; parapsidal lines distinct; surface finely rugose like most of the rest of the upper parts of the trunk; lower mesopleura swollen, smooth and shining.

Petiolar node low, with converging anterior and posterior slopes and an obliquely subtruncate summit as seen from the side, but as seen from in front subquadratic, slightly wider than high, with blunt, sub-rectangular dorsolateral angles and a low, blunt median tubercle or process.

Gaster very robust, only weakly constricted. Terminalia prominent, largely exserted; pygidium short, shallowly emarginate in the middle; hypopygium broad, narrowed apicad to a broad, rounded-edged, linguiform apex that is somewhat scoop-shaped and densely fringed with short hairs. Paramere shaped much as in graeffei (fig. 77), with broad, convex basal part and slender, digitiform apical process attached to the basal part at a mainly membranous articulatory area; the 2 apical processes bowed laterad, their apices are directed mesad. Aedeagus large, with a sharp, convex dorsal crest, in side view the valves tapering to cuneiform points with narrowly rounded apices that are pressed together as seen from dorsal view. Volsellae large, but unremarkable; hidden from view except for apices of digitus and cuspis.

Body color dark ferruginous; gaster lighter reddish; antennae, mouthparts, legs and terminalia yellowish.

Among the worker-based species known from Sri Lanka, consultons may match up best with A. nietneri because of the median tubercle of the petiolar summit, possibly a shadow trait of the worker’s petiolar spine. The size of the consultons male is, however, a bit on the small side to match the TL of approximately 6.4 mm of the nietneri type worker.