A new ant species, Anochetus daedalus, is described based on worker caste collected from a nest in secondary tropical semi-evergreen forest from Sirsi, Karnataka, India, part of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot. It is very similar to Anochetus nietneri Roger, but is distinctly different in shape of the petiole. The species is notable for constructing elaborate nest entrance which resembles ‘fort nests’ constructed by some Pheidole spp.