Aenictus malakkaparensis

This species is known only from the type locality in Kerala, India.

Identification
Aenictus malakkaparensis is similar to Aenictus appressipilosus from which it can be fairly separated by a combination of characters. Aenictus appressipilosus have two long standing hairs mixed with few short appressed hairs on the vertex and has a few appressed hairs mixed with few decumbent hairs on promesonotum whereas in Aenictus malakkaparensis two long standing hairs are absent and its sub petiolar process is low and short, with anterior and posterior corners bluntly angulated and the ventral outline convex.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Nomenclature

 * . Aenictus malakkaparensis Antony & Prasad, 2022: 20781 (w.) INDIA.

Type Material

 * Holotype: ZSI/WGRC/IR-INV.13903, 04.xii.2018, Female, worker, Malakkapara, Thrissur, India, Kerala, 10.280N, 76.861E, 1,016m, hand collection from ground, coll. A. Antony.

Description
Worker

Holotype worker measurements: TL 2.57mm; HL 0.57mm; HW 0.49mm; SL 0.38mm; ML 0.90mm, PTL 0.21mm, PTH 0.19mm, PPTL 0.20mm, CI 84; SI 77.

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 is short reaching almost 1/2 of head length. Anterior clypeal margin almost straight or feebly concave. Mandibles with basal margin edentate, masticatory margin of mandible with large acute apical tooth followed by a medium-sized subapical tooth, three 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, Post Petiole: Petiole longer than high, node short, elevated posteriorly and dorsal outline convex; sub petiolar process low and short, with anterior and posterior corners bluntly angulated and its ventral outline convex. Postpetiole clearly smaller than petiole, its dorsal outline convex.

Head, antenna and gaster entirely smooth and shiny; mandible finely striate with long decumbent hairs. Promesonotum smooth and shiny except for anteriormost 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 sparse standing 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, Malakkapara.