Classification: | Kingdom: Animalia | Phylum: Arthropoda | Class: Insecta | Order: Hymenoptera | Family: Formicidae | Genus: Polyrhachis |

The winged version:

This forest ant is supposed to be very widespread and somewhat variable South-east Asian species [1]. It looked very similar to Polyrhachis abdominalis described as a common species found in this region in the wild, the rural and semi urban areas by the termites and ants blog. In a 2006 ant survey in a Thailand province, the list of species found include Polyrhachis armata but not Polyrhachis abdominalis [2]. However, an earlier report in 2005 that list the known ant species in Thailand did included both Polyrhachis armata and Polyrhachis abdominalis [3]. The pictures shown in this page may be a mixture of both ants.

Some ants appear to have a red abdomen versus the usual black version. A report in 2008 showed that nematode infection can cause the abdomen of an ant species to become red in colour so as to attract birds to feed on the ants, which then help the nematode to disperse further [4]. Not sure whether it is the same case for this particular ant species.

References:

[1] Kohout RJ. Polyrhachis (Myrmhopla) maryatiae, a new species of the armata-group from Borneo (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Formicinae). Asian Myrmecology 2007;1:1-5. | Read article |

[2] Sitthicharoenchai D, Chantarasawat N. Ant species Ddversity in the establishing area for Advanced Technology Institute at Lai-Nan Sub-district, Wiang Sa District, Nan Province, Thailand. The Natural History Journal of Chulalongkorn University 2006;6(2):67-74. | Read article |

[3] Jaitrong W, Nabhitabhataa J. List of known ant species of Thailand (Formicidae: Hymenoptera). The Thailand Natural History Museum Journal 2005;1(1):9-54. | Read article |

[4] Hughes DP, Kronauer DJC, Boomsma JJ. Extended phenotype: nematodes turn ants into bird-dispersed fruits. Current Biology 2008;18(7):R294. | Read article |