Taxonomic history
Replacement name for Polyrhachis rubiginosa (Le Guillou, 1842). [Junior primary homonym of Lasius rubiginosa (Latreille, 1802).].[Note: Polyrhachis hector Smith, 1857 was the oldest junior synonym of Polyrhachis rubiginosa (Le Guillou, 1842) (synonymy by Dorow, 1995 PDF: 55); hence Polyrhachis hector Smith, 1857 was first available replacement name (Dorow, 1995 PDF: 55).].Imai et al., 1984 PDF: 68 (k.).Combination in Polyrhachis (Myrmhopla): Emery, 1925d PDF: 193.Subspecies of Polyrhachis relucens: Emery, 1896j PDF: 379 (in list) (error), 381.[Note: correctly, the entry Emery, 1896j PDF: 379 (in list), should apply to Polyrhachis hector Smith, 1859, not Polyrhachis hector Smith, 1857.].Status as species: Smith, 1858a PDF: 61; Roger, 1863b PDF: 6; Mayr, 1863a PDF: 445; Smith, 1871a PDF: 311; Dalla Torre, 1893 PDF: 263; Emery, 1925d PDF: 193; Donisthorpe, 1932c PDF: 446; Chapman & Capco, 1951 PDF: 291; Bolton, 1974b PDF: 174; Bolton, 1995b: 349; Dorow, 1995 PDF: 12 (in key), 55; Karmaly, 2004 PDF: 545 (in key); Mohanraj et al., 2010 PDF: 7; Pfeiffer et al., 2011 PDF: 41; Bharti et al., 2016 PDF: 30.Senior synonym of Polyrhachis achilles: Bolton, 1974b PDF: 174; Bolton, 1995b: 349; Dorow, 1995 PDF: 55.Senior synonym of Polyrhachis malignus: Bolton, 1974b PDF: 174; Bolton, 1995b: 349; Dorow, 1995 PDF: 55.Senior synonym of Polyrhachis abdominalis reversa: Bolton, 1974b PDF: 174; Bolton, 1995b: 349; Dorow, 1995 PDF: 55.Worker. Length 4 lines.-Opake-black; delicately shagreened: the thorax armed with two long acute divergent spines in front, and two slightly divergent ones on the metathorax; the legs without spines or pubescence, the calcaria black; the disk of the thorax convex. Abdomen with an obscure ferruginous tinge; the scale of the petiole quadrate, with two long divergent spines above which curve backwards.
Hab. Singapore. (Coll. W. W. Saunders, Esq.)
P. opacus niger; thorace spinis duabus longis acutis antice et postice armato; squama quadrata spinis duabus longis curvatis; abdomine obscure ferrugineo.
Worker. Length 4 lines. Opake-black: delicately shagreened; the head narrowed posteriorly; the thorax armed with two long acute divergent spines in front, and two slightly divergent ones behind; the scale quadrate, with two long divergent spines above which curve backwards; the legs without spines or pubescence, the calcaria black. Abdomen with an obscure ferruginous tinge. Thorax not flattened above.
Hab. Singapore.
