Key to southeastern Asian Aenictus ceylonicus group species

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Key to Asian Aenictus ceylonicus group species based on workers, modified from Jaitrong & Yamane (2013), Liu et al. (2015) and Staab (2015) by Dhadwal & Bharti (2023).

1

  • Mandible with 2-6 teeth/denticles between subapical and basal teeth (mandible with more than 4 teeth/denticles) (Fig. 5a) => 2
  • Mandible with 0-1 tooth/denticle between subapical and basal teeth (mandible with 3-4 teeth/denticles) (Fig. 5b) => 22
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 5. Mandibles of A. ceylonicus group species in full face view. a) A. lifuiae, b) A. maneerati (Images are from Jaitrong & Yamane, 2013).

2

return to couplet #1

  • Promesonotum entirely sculptured (punctate or reticulate) => 3
  • Promesonotum largely smooth and shiny => 4

3

return to couplet #2

  • Promesonotum sparsely reticulate or superficially micropunctate; antennal scape superficially shagreened; petiole cylindrical, clearly longer than high (Fig. 6a) => Aenictus cylindripetiolus
  • Promesonotum densely punctate; antennal scape micropunctate; petiole round or subangular, almost as long as high (Fig. 6b) => Aenictus thailandianus
Aenictus thailandianus side (www.niaes.affrc.go.jp).jpg


  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 6. Promesonotum. a) A. cylinderipetiolus, b) A. thailandianus. (Images are from Jaitrong & Yamane, 2013).

4

return to couplet #2

  • Subpetiolar process prominent => 5
  • Subpetiolar process not prominent, weakly developed => 8

5

return to couplet #4

  • Dorsum of mesonotum and petiole finely reticulate => 6
  • Dorsum of mesonotum and petiole smooth and shiny => 7

6

return to couplet #5

  • Subpetiolar process rectangular-trapezoidal, its ventral outline with a thin almost transparent lamellae (Fig. 7a); masticatory margin of mandible with 4 (rarely 3) denticles (total number of mandibular teeth 6-7, including apical, subapical, and basal tooth) => Aenictus hoelldobleri
  • Subpetiolar process rectangular, its apex very acute and directed downwards medially (Fig. 7b); masticatory margin of mandible with 6 denticles (total number of mandibular teeth 9 including apical, subapical, and basal tooth) => Aenictus wudangshanensis
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 7. Subpetiolar process. a) A. hoelldobleri (CASENT0914932), b) A. wudangshanensis (CASENT0914927).

7

return to couplet #5

  • Metanotal groove distinct; lateral propodeal margins converge more sharply posterad; pospetiole convex in profile; subpetiolar process subrectangular with acute anterior corners and blunt posterior corners (Fig. 8a, b) => Aenictus dirangensis
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 1. Aenictus dirangensis. 1) head in full face view.
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 3. Aenictus dirangensis. 3) body in profile view.
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 4. Aenictus dirangensis. 4) body in dorsal view.
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 8. Dorsal view and subpetiolar process. a) A. dirangensis (Liu et al, 2015).
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 8. Dorsal view and subpetiolar process. b) A. dirangensis (Liu et al, 2015).
  • Metanotal groove weakly impressed; lateral propodeal margins gently sloping posteriorly; pospetiole angular in profile; subpetiolar process relatively elongated, and slightly projecting anteroventrally (Fig. 8c, d) => Aenictus yangi
Liu-et-al-2015-9 Aenictus yangi hal.jpg
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 8. Dorsal view and subpetiolar process. c) A. yangi (Liu et al, 2015).
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 8. Dorsal view and subpetiolar process. d) A. yangi (Liu et al, 2015).

8

return to couplet #4

  • Dorsal face of propodeum mostly smooth and shiny, the lateral face of propodeum partly smooth and shiny; postpetiole entirely smooth and shiny (Fig. 9a) => 9
  • Propodeum entirely sculptured; postpetiole entirely sculptured or with a smooth and shiny small area on the dorsal face (Fig. 9b) => 12
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 9. a) Dorsal view of A. longicephalus, b) Dorsal view of A. appressipilosus. (Images are from Jaitrong and Yamane, 2013).

9

return to couplet #8

  • The declivity of propodeum with lateral carinae, but not demarcated basally by a transverse carina (Fig. 10a) => Aenictus longicephalus
  • The declivity of propodeum is shallowly concave, encircled with a rim (Fig. 10b) => 10
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 10. Showing propodeal declivity. a) A. longicephalus, b) A. baliensis. (Images are from Jaitrong and Yamane, 2013).

10

return to couplet #9

  • Distal 2/3 of basal margin of mandible straight, proximal 1/3 narrowed toward the base of mandible; anterior clypeal margin straight; petiole smaller than postpetiole (Fig. 11a, b) => Aenictus minipetiolus
  • Basal margin of mandible feebly concave; anterior clypeal margin concave; petiole larger than or as large as postpetiole (Fig. 11c, d) => 11
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 11. Showing head, petiole and postpetiole. a) A. minipetiolus (Images are from Jaitrong and Yamane, 2013).

11

return to couplet #10

  • Promesonotum is strongly convex and sloping gradually to the metanotal groove; subpetiolar process with angular posteroventral corner (Fig. 12a) => Aenictus baliensis
  • Mesosoma almost flat dorsally or feebly convex; subpetiolar process lower, with its posteroventral corner rounded (Fig.12b) => Aenictus wiwatwitayai
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 12. Profile view. a) A. baliensis, b) A. wiwatwitayai. (Images are from Jaitrong and Yamane, 2013).

12

return to couplet #8

  • Vertex with sparse standing hairs and with a few short appressed hairs; promesonotum with few appressed hairs and a few decumbent hairs (Fig. 13a) => 13
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 13. Profile view. a) A. appressipilosus (Images are from Jaitrong and Yamane, 2013).
  • Vertex and promesonotum with dense standing or decumbent hairs (Fig. 13b) => 14
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 13. Profile view. b) A. pinkaewi. (Images are from Jaitrong and Yamane, 2013).

13

return to couplet #12

14

return to couplet #12

  • Occipital corner modified into a small lobe in profile and dorsal view (Fig. 14a) => Aenictus gonioccipus
  • Occipital corner without modifications in profile and dorsal view (Fig. 14b) => 15
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 14. Head profile view. a) A. gonioccipus, b) A. lifuiae (Images are from Jaitrong and Yamane, 2013).

15

return to couplet #14

  • Mesonotum straight in dorsally slope down backward; posterodorsal corners of propodeum protruding and dentate, declivity concave => Aenictus henanensis
  • Mesonotum weakly or strongly convex in dorsal outline; posterodorsal corners of propodeum angular nearly right-angled, declivity shallowly concave => 16

16

return to couplet #15

  • Masticatory margin of mandible with large acute apical tooth followed by a series of 6-7 denticles of two sizes, the larger alternating with 1-2 smaller; the gap between anterior clypeal margin and mandibles relatively small or indistinct, with maximum width shorter than the maximum width of the mandible (Fig. 15a) => Aenictus lifuiae
Aenictus lifuiae side (www.niaes.affrc.go.jp).jpg
  • Masticatory margin of mandible with large acute apical tooth followed by a medium-sized subapical tooth, 2-5 denticles, and a medium-sized basal tooth; the gap between anterior clypeal margin and mandibles relatively large and distinct, with maximum width longer than the maximum width of the mandible (Fig. 15b) => 17
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 15. Mandibles. a) A. lifuiae, b) A. thailandianus. (Images are from Jaitrong and Yamane, 2013).

17

return to couplet #16

  • Subpetiolar process subtriangular, its apex directed backward, anteroventrally not angular; postpetiole elevated posteriorly; its posterior face much steeper than anterior face (Sumatra) (Fig. 16a) => Aenictus itoi
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 16. Subpetiolar process. a) A. itoi (Images are from Jaitrong and Yamane, 2013).
  • Subpetiolar process subrectangular, its apex directed forward , anteroventrally angular; postpetiole with roundly convex dorsal outline (Fig.16b, c) => 18
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 16. Subpetiolar process. b) A. gonioccipus (Images are from Jaitrong and Yamane, 2013).
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 16. Subpetiolar process. c) A. jawadwipa (Images are from Jaitrong and Yamane, 2013).

18

return to couplet #17

  • Subpetiolar process rectangular, ventrally with anterior and posterior corners => 19
  • Subpetiolar process low, its ventral outline convex, almost straight or feebly concave, and anteroventral corner acutely angular => 21

19

return to couplet #18

  • Dorsal outline of propodeum weakly convex; metapleural gland bulla weakly sculptured (Vietnam) => Aenictus eguchii
  • Dorsal outline of propodeum straight; metapleural gland bulla strongly sculptured (puncto-reticulate) => 20

20

return to couplet #19

21

return to couplet #18

  • Promesonotum in profile weakly convex; propodeal dorsum feebly convex; petiole sessile, its posterior face encircled with a thin carina; postpetiole almost as long as petiole (Fig. 17a) => Aenictus wilaiae
  • Promesonotum in profile strongly convex and forming a dome; propodeal dorsum clearly straight; petiole subsessile, its posterior face not encircled with a carina; postpetiole slightly shorter than petiole (Philippines) (Fig. 17b) => Aenictus pilosus
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 17. Profile view. a) A. wilaiae, b) A. pilosus. (Images are from Jaitrong and Yamane, 2013).

22

return to couplet #1

  • Mandible with 3 teeth including apical and basal teeth (Fig. 18a) => 23
  • Mandible with 4 teeth including apical and basal teeth (Fig. 18b) => 24
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 18. Mandible. a) A. watanasiti, b) A. maneerati. (Images are from Jaitrong and Yamane, 2013).

23

return to couplet #22

  • Occipital corner rounded in lateral view; promesonotum in profile strongly convex and forming a dome; petiole almost as long as high, with high node, and almost as long as postpetiole (Fig. 19a) => Aenictus watanasiti
  • Occipital corner shallowly rounded in lateral view; promesonotum in profile with weakly convex or almost flat dorsal outline; petiole clearly longer than high, with low node, and slightly longer than postpetiole Fig. 19b) => Aenictus concavus
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 19. Profile view. a) A. watanasiti, b) A. concavus. (Images are from Jaitrong and Yamane, 2013).

24

return to couplet #22

  • Dorsal and lateral faces of pronotum largely smooth and shiny; petiole almost as long as high; head slightly longer than or almost as long as broad (CI 90- 100) (Fig. 20a) => 25
  • Dorsal and lateral faces of pronotum entirely sculptured (superficially puncto-reticulate, punctate to reticulate); petiole cylindrical, distinctly longer than high; head slightly shorter than broad (CI 102-112) (Fig. 20b) => 27
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 20. Profile view. a) A. formosensis, b) A. maneerati. (Images are from Jaitrong and Yamane, 2013).

25

return to couplet #24

  • Anterior clypeal margin distinctly concave; metanotal groove distinct, deep; foretibia relatively short, its length less than 0.5 times of head width; mesopleuron finely punctate without longitudinal rugulae (Fig. 21a) => Aenictus brevipodus
  • Anterior clypeal margin almost straight or feebly concave; metanotal groove indistinct; foretibia relatively long, its length about 0.9-1.0 times as long as head width; mesopleuron with longitudinal rugulae (Fig. 21b) => 26
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 22. Subpetiolar process. a) A. khaoyaiensis, b) A. formosensis. (Images are from Jaitrong and Yamane, 2013).

26

return to couplet #25

  • Subpetiolar process low, ventral outline weakly convex, its anteroventral corner angular (Thailand) (Fig. 22a) => Aenictus khaoyaiensis
  • Subpetiolar process well-developed, subrectangular with a convex ventral lamella, with anterior corners acute and posterior corners bluntly angular (Fig. 22b) => Aenictus formosensis
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 22. Subpetiolar process. a) A. khaoyaiensis, b) A. formosensis. (Images are from Jaitrong and Yamane, 2013).

27

return to couplet #24

  • Subpetiolar process very low, with anterior and posterior denticles that protrude anteroventrally; head in full-face view rectangular, its posterior margin feebly concave (Thailand) (Fig. 23a, b) => Aenictus maneerati
  • Subpetiolar process subrectangular or low, with its anteroventral corner acutely angular and ventral outline straight or convex; head in full-face view subrectangular or rounded, its posterior margin weakly concave, almost straight or weakly convex (Fig. 23c, d) => 28
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 23. Subpetiolar process and head in full face view. a-b) A. maneerati and c-d). A. fuchuanensis. (Images are from Jaitrong and Yamane, 2013).

28

return to couplet #27

  • Pronotum with central area superficially shagreened or rather smooth and shining, and with lateral face reticulate and shiny; subpetiolar process low, with its anteroventral corner acutely angular and ventral outline concave (Fig. 24a) => Aenictus sundalandensis
  • Pronotum micropunctate or reticulate and opaque (at most weakly shining); subpetiolar process always low, with its anteroventral corner acutely angular and ventral outline almost straight or convex (Fig. 24b) => 29
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 24. Dorsal view. a) A. sundalandensis, b) A. fuchuanensis. (Images are from Jaitrong and Yamane, 2013).

29

return to couplet #28

  • Anterior portion of the pronotum densely punctate, the lateral face of the pronotum finely reticulate (China, Hong Kong, Laos and Thailand) (Fig. 25b) => Aenictus fuchuanensis
  • Dhadwal & Bharti (2023), Figure 25. Dorsal view. a) A. pinkaewi, b) A. fuchuanensis. (Images are from Jaitrong and Yamane, 2013).

References