spiny ant (queen)

Description:

"[T]he ant is a queen of genus Polyrhachis, which is a old word genus, with over 600 species currently known. It would be quite difficult to identify the exact species from the photograph as there are many small morphological details needed for proper identification. This individual seem to be a freshly mated queen which shed here wings (you can see the ruptures on her thorax) and she is probably looking for place to establish a colony. In any case, is is great that there are some photos from NG on the website." Milan Janda, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University / Evolution & Ecology of Social Insects Lab, Biology Centre, the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic

Habitat:

This spotting on Codiaeum variegatum in a large semi-urban yard/garden adjacent to a disturbed patch of remnant forest.

Notes:

I have seen various common names for this genus that don't seem to match with the morphology of this particular specimen, nevertheless the common name "spiny ants" seems to be the most prevalent for the genus. Stumped on this extraordinary ant, I sought outside expertise (see description).