Aenictus kodungallurensis

Aenictus kodungallurensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Dorylinae
Genus:	Aenictus
Species group:	ceylonicus
Species:	A. kodungallurensis
Binomial name
	Aenictus kodungallurensis; Antony & Prasad, 2022

Aenictus kodungallurensis was collected from a coastal area with loose coastal alluvium soil by handpicking method.

Identification

Antony & Prasad (2022) - Aeniictus kodungallurensis is smaller in size than Aenictus malakkaparensis. The antennal scape of Aenictus malakkaparensis is shorter compared to Aenictus kodungallurensis. The shape of subpetiolar process is also different, the ventral margine between corners is straight or feebly concave in Aenictus kodungallurensis but it is convex in Aenictus malakkaparensis. Head and mesosome of Aenictus kodungallurensis is covered with dense hairs but in case of Aenictus malakkaparensis head and mesosome is only covered by sparse hairs.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Oriental Region: India (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.

Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.

Biology

Castes

Antony & Prasad (2022) Images 9–13. Aenictus kodungallurensis worker (SEM images): 9. lateral view of body 10. front of head 11. Mesonotum 12. Subpetiolar process 13. Mandible. © 9–13. Central Laboratory for Instrumentation And Facilitation (CLIF), University of Kerala; 14–16.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

kodungallurensis. Aenictus kodungallurensis Antony & Prasad, 2022: 20783 (w.) INDIA.

Type Material

Holotype: ZSI/WGRC/IR-INV.13902, 11.vi.2016, Female, worker, Kodungallur, Thrissur, Kerala, India, 10.238N, 76.161E, 9 m, hand collection on ground, coll. A. Antony.

Description

Worker

Holotype worker measurements: TL 2.40mm; HL 0.54mm; HW 0.50mm; SL 0.40mm; ML 0.89mm, PTL 0.20mm, PTH 0.17mm, PPTL 0.17mm, CI 89; SI 76.

Head: Head in full-face view sub rectangular, slightly longer than broad, sides convex, posterior margin almost straight; anterior part of head is broader than posterior part. Antennae with 10 segments, with ill-defined three segmented club and scape reaching almost 2/3 of head length. Anterior clypeal margin almost straight or feebly concave. Mandibles with basal margin edentate, masticatory margin of mandible with a large acute apical tooth followed by a medium-sized subapical tooth, two denticles, and a medium-sized basal tooth.

Mesosoma: Promesonotum convex dorsally and sloping gradually to metanotal groove; mesopleuron relatively long, clearly demarcated from metapleuron by a groove. Propodeum in profile with almost straight dorsal outline; propodeal junction angulate; declivity of propodeum fat, with blunt lateral carinae but not demarcated basally by a transverse carina. Petiole longer than high, node short, elevated posteriorly and dorsal outline convex; subpetiolar process low and subrectangular with anteroventral and posteroventral corners bluntly angulated and margin between the corners straight to feebly concave. Postpetiole clearly smaller than petiole, its dorsal outline convex.

Head, antenna and gaster entirely smooth and shiny; mandible finely striate. Promesonotum smooth and shiny except for anterior most portion punctate; mesopleuron with slightly irregular rugae; metapleuron, and propodeum wrinkled and reticulate. Petiole and postpetiole entirely reticulate except small area on dorsa smooth and shiny. Head and mesosoma dorsally with relatively dense standing hairs mixed with relatively dense decumbent hairs. Legs with dense long decumbent hairs. Mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole reddish-brown; head, antennal scape, gaster and legs yellowish-brown.

Etymology

The species name is after the type locality, Kodungallur.

References