Additional Records of Polyrhachis (Myrmatopa) varicolor Viehmeyer (Formicidae: Formicinae) from Southern Thailand, with Notes on Its Nesting Habits

Abstract

Polyrhachis (Myrmatopa) varicolor Viehmeyer (Formicidae: Formicinae) is newly recorded from sixteen different sites in Southern Thailand based on material from colonies on low vegetation and specimens from tree fogging samples. The nesting habits, including nesting sites, nest material and the colony composition, of this species were examined. We found no remarkable variation in nest size (height, width and depth), nest location above ground and the number of entrances per nest, whilst the ranges of these values overlapped among nests from different localities. Nests of this species were made of silk sheets, while the carton and other materials, such as plant tissue fragments, are incorporated into their nest wall structures. This species is polydomous with the colony members distributed over several nests, although colonies were generally monogynous.