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<p>Morphological anomalies in ants offer valuable insights into caste determination mechanisms and developmental plasticity. We report the first recorded intercaste individual of <i>Dolichoderus taprobanae</i> Smith F., 1858 from India, collected during ant surveys (2022–2024) in the Garhwal Region, Uttarakhand. The specimen, obtained from Lacchiwala Forest Range using honey bait, displayed a unique blend of queen and worker traits, including intermediate mesonotum development and the presence of ocelli. Morphometric analysis revealed a total length of 3.305&#xa0;mm and measurements falling between those of typical workers and gynes. Such intercastes differ from gynandromorphs by representing developmental intermediates rather than sex mosaics. The anomaly may have arisen from genetic factors, developmental disruptions, or environmental influences during larval stages. This rare observation enriches the documentation of morphological diversity within the Dolichoderinae subfamily in India and highlights the importance of systematic faunal surveys in uncovering rare phenotypes that illuminate social insect developmental processes.</p>

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First Report of an Intercaste of Dolichoderus taprobanae Smith, F., 1858 (Formicidae: Dolichoderinae) from India

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月27日

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  • Ashirwad Tripathy,
  • Himender Bharti,
  • Arun Pratap Singh

摘要

Morphological anomalies in ants offer valuable insights into caste determination mechanisms and developmental plasticity. We report the first recorded intercaste individual of Dolichoderus taprobanae Smith F., 1858 from India, collected during ant surveys (2022–2024) in the Garhwal Region, Uttarakhand. The specimen, obtained from Lacchiwala Forest Range using honey bait, displayed a unique blend of queen and worker traits, including intermediate mesonotum development and the presence of ocelli. Morphometric analysis revealed a total length of 3.305 mm and measurements falling between those of typical workers and gynes. Such intercastes differ from gynandromorphs by representing developmental intermediates rather than sex mosaics. The anomaly may have arisen from genetic factors, developmental disruptions, or environmental influences during larval stages. This rare observation enriches the documentation of morphological diversity within the Dolichoderinae subfamily in India and highlights the importance of systematic faunal surveys in uncovering rare phenotypes that illuminate social insect developmental processes.