Aenictus pachycerus

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
A member of the pachycerus group.

Key to Aenictus species groups

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India, Sri Lanka.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 * . Eciton pachycerus Smith, F. 1858b: 153 (w.) "Hab. South America?"
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-locality: “South America?” (Hardwick).
 * [Note: type-locality India, after Bingham, 1903: 21.]
 * Type-depository: BMNH.
 * Bharti, 2003a: 715 (q.).
 * Combination in Aenictus: Dalla Torre, 1893: 8.
 * Status as species: Mayr, 1863: 409; Roger, 1863b: 36; Dalla Torre, 1893: 8; Forel, 1895b: 121; Rothney, 1903: 96; Bingham, 1903: 20; Forel, 1906b: 90; Emery, 1910b: 30; Menozzi, 1939a: 327; Chapman & Capco, 1951: 11; Wilson, 1964a: 471; Bolton, 1995b: 60; Tiwari, 1999: 17; Bharti, 2003a: 714; Bharti, Wachkoo & Kumar, 2012: 294 (in key); Bharti, Guénard, et al. 2016: 21.
 * Senior synonym of bengalensis: Bingham, 1903: 20; Emery, 1910b: 30; Wilson, 1964a: 471; Bolton, 1995b: 60; Tiwari, 1999: 17.
 * Senior synonym of continuus: Wilson, 1964a: 471; Bolton, 1995b: 60.
 * Distribution: India, Sri Lanka.
 * bengalensis. Typhlatta bengalensis Mayr, 1879: 669 (w.) INDIA (West Bengal).
 * Type-material: holotype(?) worker.
 * [Note: no indication of number of specimens is given.]
 * Type-locality: India: Calcutta (Rothney).
 * Type-depository: NHMW.
 * Combination in Aenictus: Dalla Torre, 1893: 7.
 * Status as species: Dalla Torre, 1893: 7; Forel, 1901a: 476; Chapman & Capco, 1951: 10.
 * Junior synonym of pachycerus: Bingham, 1903: 20; Emery, 1910b: 30; Wilson, 1964a: 471; Bolton, 1995b: 59; Tiwari, 1999: 17.
 * continuus. Aenictus bengalensis var. continuus Forel, 1901a: 476 (w.) SRI LANKA, INDIA.
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-localities: Sri Lanka (“Ceylon”) (no further data), and India: Calcutta (Rothney).
 * Type-depository: MHNG.
 * Subspecies of bengalensis: Chapman & Capco, 1951: 10.
 * Subspecies of pachycerus: Emery, 1910b: 30.
 * Junior synonym of pachycerus: Wilson, 1964a: 471; Bolton, 1995b: 59.

Worker
Wilson (1964) - Syntypes: HW 0.71 mm, HL 0.82mm, SL 0.63mm; HW 0.71 mm, HL 0.83mm, SL 0.65 mm. Antenna 10-segmented. Mandible typical. Clypeus strongly convex, entire, unarmed. Parafrontal ridge very distinct, 0.3 mm in length, in side view forming a prosalient lobe. Occiput weakly convex, lacking collar. Propodeal junction acutely angulate. Subpetiolar process a large, evenly rounded lobe which projects slightly forward. Pilosity moderately abundant and relatively long; length of longest pronotal hairs 0.28 mm.

Head everywhere weakly microreticulate, the reticular diameters about 0.01 mm; vertex, area immediately surrounding parafrontal ridges, and clypeus subopaque; remainder of head feebly shining; mesosoma and pedicel entirely microreticulate, with reticular diameter about 0.01 mm; body everywhere opaque, except over most of pronotal dorsum, which is feebly shining. Concolorous medium reddish brown.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bharti H. 2003. Queen of the army ant Aenictus pachycereus (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Aenictinae). Sociobiology 42: 715-718.
 * Bharti H., A. A. Wachkoo, and R. Kumar. 2017. First inventory of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Northwestern Shivalik, India. Halteres 8: 33-68.
 * Bharti H., Y. P. Sharma, M. Bharti, and M. Pfeiffer. 2013. Ant species richness, endemicity and functional groups, along an elevational gradient in the Himalayas. Asian Myrmecology 5: 79-101.
 * Bharti H., Y. P. Sharma, and A. Kaur. 2009. Seasonal patterns of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Punjab Shivalik. Halteres 1(1): 36-47.
 * Chapman, J. W., and Capco, S. R. 1951. Check list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Asia. Monogr. Inst. Sci. Technol. Manila 1: 1-327
 * Chapman, J.W. and S.R. Capco. 1951. Check list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Asia. Monographs of the Institute of Science and Technology (Manila) 1: 1- 327
 * Dias R. K. S. 2002. Current knowledge on ants of Sri Lanka. ANeT Newsletter 4: 17- 21.
 * Dias R. K. S. 2006. Current taxonomic status of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Sri Lanka. The Fauna of Sri Lanka: 43-52. Bambaradeniya, C.N.B. (Editor), 2006. Fauna of Sri Lanka: Status of Taxonomy, Research and Conservation. The World Conservation Union, Colombo, Sri Lanka & Government of Sri Lanka. viii + 308pp.
 * Dias R. K. S. 2013. Diversity and importance of soil-dweeling ants. Proceedings of the National Symposium on Soil Biodiversity, chapt 4, pp 19-22.
 * Dias R. K. S., K. R. K. A. Kosgamage, and H. A. W. S. Peiris. 2012. The Taxonomy and Conservation Status of Ants (Order: Hymenoptera, Family: Formicidae) in Sri Lanka. In: The National Red List 2012 of Sri Lanka; Conservation Status of the Fauna and Flora. Weerakoon, D.K. & S. Wijesundara Eds., Ministry of Environment, Colombo, Sri Lanka. p11-19.
 * Dias R. K. S., and K. R. K. Anuradha Kosgamage. 2012. Occurrence and species diversity of ground-dwelling worker ants (Family: Formicidae) in selected lands in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. J. Sci. Univ. Kelaniya 7: 55-72.
 * Dias R. K. S., and R. P. K. C. Rajapaksa. 2016. Geographic records of subfamilies, genera and species of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the four climatic zones of Sri Lanka: a review. J. Sci. Univ. Kelaniya 11(2): 23-45.
 * Emery C. 1910. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Dorylinae. Genera Insectorum 102: 1-34.
 * Forel A. 1901. Les Formicides de l'Empire des Indes et de Ceylan. Part VIII. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 13: 462-477
 * Forel A. 1906. Les fourmis de l'Himalaya. Bulletin de la Société Vaudoise des Sciences Naturelles 42: 79-94.
 * Rajan P. D., M. Zacharias, and T. M. Mustak Ali. 2006. Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae. Fauna of Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary (Karnataka). Conservation Area Series, Zool. Surv. India.i-iv,27: 153-188.
 * Tiwari R. N. 1999. Taxonomic studies on ants of southern India (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Memoirs of the Zoological Survey of India 18(4): 1-96.
 * Tiwari, R.N. 1999. Taxonomic studies on ants of southern India (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Memoirs of the Zoological Survey of India 18(4):1-96
 * Wilson E. O. 1964. The true army ants of the Indo-Australian area (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Dorylinae). Pacific Insects 6: 427-483.