Nylanderia indica ( Forel, 1894 )

Guénard, Benoit, 2023, A checklist of Nylanderia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae) from Hong Kong and Macao SARs, with an illustrated identification key for species in Southeast China and Taiwan, Zootaxa 5301 (5), pp. 501-539 : 524-525

Nylanderia indica ( Forel, 1894)

( Figure 19 ; Figure 26.A )

Prenolepis indica Forel, 1894: 409 , fig. 4. India.

In Paratrechina (Nylanderia) : Emery, 1925: 220; in Nylanderia: LaPolla et al., 2010: 127 .

Diagnosis. Nylanderia indica can be distinguished from other Nylanderia species from Southeast China by the combination of dorsum of propodeum shorter than declivity, mesonotum with abundant pubescence, eye approximately 1.75x as long as malar distance, and interocular distance four times the eye width, or less.

Measurements (n= 3 workers). MdL 0.327 –0.342; ClL 0.168 –0.188; ClW 0.405 –0.424; HL 0.646 –0.681; HW 0.552 –0.556; EL 0.15–0.157; MaD 0.11–0.112; IoD 0.328 –0.345; SL 0.725 –0.754; ML 0.825 –0.871; PrL 0.276 –0.307; PrW 0.405 –0.418; PrFL 0.592 –0.608; MeL 0.229 –0.242; MeW 0.236 –0.257; PrpL 0.161 –0.189; PrpH 0.311 –0.319; PrpW 0.287 –0.318; PL 0.226 –0.232; Ab3L 0.371 –0.395; TL 2.1–2.3; PMC 5–8; MMC 2–5; CI 81.3–85.5; DNI 58.3–61.5; IoI 59.5–62.1; OI 27–28.4; SI 132.6–136.4; REL 22.1–23.6; MaI 70.1–73.7.

Compare with: N. flavipes , N. sharpii , N. taylori , N. yerburyi .

Morphology. Nylanderia indica is widespread in the subtropical belt of Southern and Southeastern Asia, being recorded from India to Taiwan. Although our study was restricted in terms of geographical coverage, our observations on morphological variation agree with those from other studies (e.g., Wachkoo & Bharti 2015). This species shows a wide range of variation in terms of body shape and size, and pubescence.

Ecology. Locally, N. indica was more frequent in highly disturbed areas (e.g., Chek Lap Kok, a highly modified region that houses the Hong Kong International Airport), although some specimens were also found in less disturbed areas (e.g., four specimens sampled in urban parks such as the Kowloon Tsai, North District, and Tuen Mun Parks, which normally have patches of forest with varying degrees of size and restoration). Fewer specimens were found in more preserved areas (such as near Choi Chee Ming Luen Kwong), which are mostly located in the less urbanized regions in the Northern Territories.

Distribution. Nylanderia indica is quite widespread in South and Southeast Asia, ranging from west India to Southeast China. Despite that, there are still several gaps in distribution, especially in Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, and Vietnam.

Examined material. Image of a syntype worker from Pune, India (CASENT0911008) deposited in MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland. Hong Kong: (1 worker) Chek Lap Kok , 22.3131 113.9396, 22.ii.2016, AT6B120; (1 worker) same data as preceding, 22.3015 113.9316, 27.x.2016, AT7B125; (1 worker) same data as preceding, 22.3015 113.9316, 22.x.2015, AT4B0; (1 worker) same data as preceding, 22.2958 113.9401, 14.x.2015, AT14B80; (1 worker) same data as preceding, 22.3134 113.9405, 8.x.2015, AT5B95; (1 worker) same data as preceding, 22.2958 113.9255; 21.vi.2016, AT14B0; (1 worker) same data as preceding, 22.3147 113.9401, 24.x.2016, AT4B15; (1 worker) same data as preceding, 22.3015 113.9316, 30.viii.2016, AT7B100; (1 worker) same data as preceding, 22.2958 113.9255, 19.xii.2016,AT4B15; (1 worker) same data as preceding, 22.3131 113.9396, 24.x.2016, AT6B45; (1 worker) Islands , Tung Chung, 22.29388 113.94187 ±10 m, elevation 16m, 20.ix.2016, M. Pierce col., #IAS-0070; (1 worker) Choi Chee Ming Luen Kwong , 22.41889 114.0254, elevation 14 m, 17.ix.2021, Bait, A. Ibañez col., CC1T2B1-2; (1 worker) same data as preceding, 22.41863 114.0252, elevation 14 m, 24.ix.2021, Winkler, A. Ibañez col., CC2T2W3-4; (1 worker) Kowloon Tsai , 22.33028 114.18518, elevation 25 m, 26.vii.2021, Bait, A. Ibañez col., KTP1T2B3-1; (1 worker) Tuen Mun Park , 22.39179 113.97412, 13.vii.2021, M. Hamer col.; (1 worker) Islands , Tung Chung, 22.29388 113.94187 ±10 m, elevation 16 m, 20.ix.2016, M. Pierce col., #IAS-0070; (1 worker) Hon Man Tin East Reservoir Playground , 22.31346 114.1833, elevation 71 m, 21.x.2021, Bait, A. Ibañez col., HMT1T2B2-1; (1 worker) North District Park , 22.49909 114.1349, elevation 14 m, 27.vii.2021, Bait, M. Hamer col., ND1T2B1-1; (1 worker) same data as preceding, 22.49927 114.135, elevation 14 m, 27.vii.2021, Bait, M. Hamer col., ND1T2B4-1; (1 worker) Chek Lap Kok , 22.3015 113.9316, 30.viii.2016, AT7B0; (1 worker) same data as preceding, 22.3139 113.9398, 8.ix.2015, AW4; (1 worker) same data as preceding, 22.3147 113.9401, 29.viii.2016, AT4B65; (1 worker) same data as preceding, 22.3131 113.9396, 22.x.2015, AT6B115; (1 worker) same data as preceding, 22.3015 113.9316, 30.viii.2016, AT7B55; (1 worker) same data as preceding, 22.2958 113.9255, 23.viii.2016, AT14B120; (1 worker) same data as preceding, 22.2958 113.9255, 19.xii.2016, AT14B65 [ IBBL] .

Figures

FIGURE 19. Nylanderia indica. A: Lateral view of the whole body; B: Dorsal view of the head; C: Dorsal view of the whole body.

FIGURE 26. Distribution maps for seven of the thirteen Nylanderia species recorded for Hong Kong.A: Nylanderia indica; B: Nylanderia picta; C: Nylanderia sharpii; D: Nylanderia taylori; E: Nylanderia yaeyamensis; F: Nylanderia yerburyi.