Aenictus aitkenii

This species is known from India and Sri Lanka.

Identification
A member of the pachycerus group. This species is similar to A. aratus (with which it has been treated as a junior synonym) and A. nesiotis but differs in having a broader head (cephalic index > 87 versus CI < 88 in A. nesiotis), and broader and more bulbous petiole and postpetiole (both are narrower in A. aratus and A. nesiotis). The scape is also relatively longer than in the others (scape index > 115 versus < 115). It is similar to A. levior in the shape of the head but differs in having longer scapes (Shattuck, 2008).

Key to Aenictus species groups

Distribution
This taxon was described from India and is also known from Sri Lanka.

Nomenclature

 *  aitkenii. Aenictus aitkenii Forel, 1901a: 475 (w.) INDIA. Junior synonym of aratus: Wilson, 1964a: 446. Revived from synonymy and senior synonym of asiatica: Shattuck, 2008c: 16.

Type Material

 * asiatica. Aenictus aratus var. asiatica Forel, 1911h: 453 (w.) SRI LANKA. Junior synonym of aratus: Wilson, 1964a: 446; of aitkenii: Shattuck, 2008c: 16.


 * Aenictus aitkenii: Worker syntypes from Kanara, Thana and Travancore, India.


 * Aenictus aratus var. asiatica: Worker syntype from Sri Lanka.