Key to Aenictus laeviceps group species

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The following worker key is based on Jaitrong, W. & Yamane, S. 2011. Synopsis of Aenictus species groups and revision of the A. currax and A. laeviceps groups in the eastern Oriental, Indo-Australian, and Australasian regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Aenictinae). Zootaxa, 3128, 1–46. PDF

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1

  • Pronotum extensively sculptured, the sculpture may be very superficial or represented by dense punctation . . . . . 2
  • Pronotum largely smooth and shiny, only anteriormost portion finely punctate . . . . . 3

2

return to couplet #1

  • Entire pronotum finely and densely recticulate and opaque; larger species (HW 0.90–0.95) (Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand) . . . . . Aenictus binghamii
Aenictus binghami casent0217371 h 1 high.jpg
Aenictus binghami casent0217371 p 1 high.jpg
  • Pronotum very superficially reticulate and somewhat shiny (dorsum almost smooth); smaller species (HW 0.63–0.70) (Thailand) . . . . . Aenictus siamensis
Aenictus siamensis casent0903685 h 1 high.jpg
Aenictus siamensis casent0903685 p 1 high.jpg

3

return to couplet #1

  • Vertex with some shorter standing hairs in addition to two long hairs . . . . . 7

4

return to couplet #3

  • Promesonotum with more than 4 standing hairs mixed with short hairs over the surface; dorsum of propodeum with several short hairs (Thailand, Borneo) . . . . . Aenictus sonchaengi
Aenictus sonchaengi casent0903681 h 1 high.jpg
Aenictus sonchaengi casent0903681 p 1 high.jpg
  • Promesonotum with 0–4 standing hairs; dorsum of propodeum without hairs . . . . . 5

5

return to couplet #4

  • Propodeum entirely or partly smooth, or very superficially sculptured, and shiny (Java) . . . . . Aenictus breviceps
Aenictus breviceps casent0905999 h 1 high.jpg
Aenictus breviceps casent0905999 p 1 high.jpg

6

return to couplet #5

  • Petiole shorter than high or almost as long as high (Brunei, Sarawak and Sabah) . . . . . Aenictus rotundicollis
Aenictus rotundicollis casent0903686 h 1 high.jpg
Aenictus rotundicollis casent0903686 p 1 high.jpg
  • Petiole distinctly longer than high (Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand, Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei, Sumatra, Java, and Philippines) . . . . . Aenictus laeviceps

7

return to couplet #3

  • Propodeum entirely sculptured, or rarely with a small smooth area near spiracle (Sabah) . . . . . Aenictus montivagus
Aenictus montivagus casent0903689 h 1 high.jpg
Aenictus montivagus casent0903689 p 1 high.jpg
  • Propodeum extensively smooth and shiny; at most the dorsum superficially sculptured and rather shiny . . . . . 8

8

return to couplet #7

  • Mesopleuron in at least lower portion smooth and shiny . . . . . 9

9

return to couplet #8

  • Subpetiolar process low, without anterior angle, ventrally with a spiniform appendage directed downward and backward (Malay Peninsula, Borneo) . . . . . Aenictus fulvus
Aenictus fulvus casent0903687 h 1 high.jpg
Aenictus fulvus casent0903687 p 1 high.jpg
  • Subpetiolar process low and anteriorly angulate; the ventral appendage not spiniform . . . . . 10

10

return to couplet #9

  • Larger species (HW 0.80–0.85 mm); ventral appendage of subpetiolar process high, subtriangular; scape index: 100–106 (Philippines) . . . . . Aenictus alticola
Aenictus-alticolaH5x.jpg
Aenictus-alticolaL3.2x.jpg
  • Smaller species (HW 0.78 mm); ventral appendage of subpetiolar process rudimentary, with highest point at anterior portion; scape index: 94–97 (Philippines) . . . . . Aenictus luzoni

11

return to couplet #8

Aenictus bodongjaya casent0903688 h 1 high.jpg
Aenictus bodongjaya casent0903688 p 1 high.jpg

12

return to couplet #11

  • Petiole shorter than high and slightly smaller than post petiole (Sulawesi) . . . . . Aenictus brevinodus
Aenictus brevinodus casent0903684 h 1 high.jpg
Aenictus brevinodus casent0903684 p 1 high.jpg
  • Petiole distinctly longer than high and slightly larger than postpetiole (Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Bali, Lombok) . . . . . Aenictus hodgsoni