Aenictus steindachneri

Identification
This species can be separated from the rest of the group as it presents a quite dense white pubescence directed backwards at the meso and especially at the metapleurae. The other species may present some isolated small setae, but never becoming pubescent in appearance. It also presents the most developed propodeal process of the four species in this complex.

Its general shape, size and colour might resemble Aenictus rotundatus, but can be separated due to its shorter scapes (SIL >60 for rotundatus) and cited pubescence.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: South Africa, Zimbabwe.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 * . Aenictus steindachneri Mayr, 1901b: 2 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA.
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-locality: South Africa: Orange Free State, Reddersburg (H. Brauns).
 * Type-depository: NHMW.
 * Status as species: Emery, 1904a: 111; Emery, 1910b: 31; Santschi, 1914b: 69; Arnold, 1915: 139; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 754; Bolton, 1995b: 60; Hita Garcia, et al. 2013: 201.
 * Distribution: Kenya, South Africa.

Type Material

 * Syntypes, SOUTH AFRICA: Orange [CASENT0911440] (4w) NHMB [Examined by Gomez, 2022]; Syntype, SOUTH AFRICA: Free State, Reddesburg (1w) [CASENT0919642] NMHW: Coll. Mayr [Examined by Gomez, 2022]; Syntypes, SOUTH AFRICA: Free State, Orange (Arnold) (6w) MHNG: Coll. Forel [Examined by Gomez, 2022].

Gomez (2022): There is a series of 8 workers at MNHW from Reddesburg, identified by E. Mayr as types for “A. rotundatus laevigatus”, probably part of the type series for A. steindachneri, but not labelled as such.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Arnold G. 1915. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part I. Ponerinae, Dorylinae. Annals of the South African Museum 14: 1-159.
 * Borowiec M. L. 2016. Generic revision of the ant subfamily Dorylinae (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). ZooKeys 608: 1–280.