First Inventory of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Northwestern Shivalik, India

The first inventory of the ants of Indian Northwestern Shivalik is presented. A total of 179 names of species group taxa (163 species, 16 subspecies) are recorded based on literature records and newly sampled material from 2008-2012. Twenty nine species are endemics whilst ten species are introduced. Synonyms, new localities, notes about type localities, depositories and statewise distribution in Northwestern Shivalik is also included. The study indicates that most of the areas of the vast Indian territory are unexplored for ants, perhaps majority of the ants in India are still awaiting identification and future collections should provide many new species records.