Aenictus powersi

The type series was collected from beneath a piece of wood in a garden.

Identification
A member of the pachycerus group.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Philippines.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.



Nomenclature

 *  powersi. Aenictus (Aenictus) powersi Wheeler, W.M. & Chapman, in Wheeler, W.M. 1930g: 210, fig. 6 (w.) PHILIPPINES. See also: Wilson, 1964a: 475.

Worker
WORKER. Length 2.5-3 mm.

Head scarcely longer than broad, subrectangular, nearly as broad behind as in front, with feebly rounded sides and straight posterior border, the posterior corners rounded, not produced. Frontal and genal carinae very short, the latter not dentate. Clypeus concave, with narrow, translucent anterior border, sub triangular, with a large blunt apical tooth and several minute, irregular basal dentides on the terminal border, the external border convex. Antennae short, the scapes thickened apically, reaching to the posterior third of the head, first funicular joint small, as long as broad, joints 2-8 slightly broader than long, terminal joint a little longer than the two penultimate joints together. Pronotum slightly flattened above, the mesonotum short, sloping to the mesoepinotal constriction, which is moderately pronounced. Epinotum with convex base and concave declivity, the boundary between the two developed as a blunt point. Petiole nearly as broad as long, its node evenly rounded and hemispherical, the ventral surface with a transparent lamina, produced behind as a downwardly and backwardly directed spine. Postpetiolar node resembling the petiolar node but somewhat broader and slightly broader than long, anteroventrally with a well developed tool;h, which is directed downward and forward. Gaster regularly elliptical. Legs with incrassated femora and tibae.

Mandibles opaque, finely and densely shagreened. Remainder of body smooth and shining, with fine, sparse, piligerous punctures, except the mesopleurae, mesoepinotal constriction, sides of epinotum and ventral surfaces of the petiole and postpetiole, which are sub opaque, finely and densely punctate.

Hairs white, uneven, rather delicate, sparse on the body, short on the appendages.

Mandibles, antennal fovere and anterior border of head reddish brown, remainder of head, antennal scapes and thorax yellowish red; pedicel, gaster and legs, including the coxre, yellow; antennal funiculi brown, except the terminal joint, which is yellowish red like the scapes.

Wilson (1964) - Syntypes: Worker selected at random: HW 0.78 mm, HL 0.74 mm, SL 0.45 mm. HW of 29 other syntypes 0.68-0.80mm. Antenna 10-segmented. Mandible typical in form; in closure leaving a small gap between its posterior border and anterior clypeal border. Clypeus convex, entire, unarmed. Parafrontal ridge weakly defined, only 0.12 mm long. Occiput straight, lacking collar. Basal face of propodeum straight. Propodeal junction smoothly rounded, with no trace of a ridge. Subpetiolar process very large, consisting of a subretangular lobe surmounted by a large, ventrally curving, acute flange. Pilosity sparse; only 10-25 hairs breaking the mesosomal profile. Length of longest pronotal hairs only about 0.25 mm.

Head shining, except for mandibles, which are microreticulate and opaque. Anterior face of pronotum, metanotum, mesopleuron, metapleuron, and sides of propodeum microreticulate and subopaque; remainder shining. Dorsum of pedicel shining; the rest microreticulate and opaque. Mostly clear medium yellow; parts of alitrunk with a brownish tinge.

Type Material
Described from several workers taken near Dumaguete at an altitude of 1,800 feet from a single colony under a piece of wood in a garden. This species is hypogaeic.

Type locality: Dumaguete, 540 m, Negros, P. I.