Aenictus asantei

This species is probably a column raider and was found collecting immatures of a Pheidole species in coastal scrub and grassland habitat.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Ghana, Nigeria.

Nomenclature

 *  asantei. Aenictus asantei Campione, Novak & Gotwald, 1983: 873, 7 figs. (w.q.) GHANA.

Description
Worker, composite  description. Habitus as in Fig.A and  B;  total  length  3.47-3.89  mm; head,  alitrunk, waist, and gaster dark reddish brown to reddish orange;legs and antennae orange-brown to yellow-orange; bul­lae of metapleural glands yellow, especially conspicuous in darkly pigmented individuals. Pilosity moderately abundant, consisting of erect to suberect setae. Head as in Fig. JC; head length 0.63-0.77 mm; head width 0.63-0.72 mm; cephalic  index  (HW/HL  X   100) 93.5-107.9. Head glossy,  without  obvious  punctures; parafrontal  ridges  (elevated  lines  extending  longitudi­nally from clypeus laterad to the antenna! fossae) well developed,  each terminating  in a minute  spine. Frontal carinae expanded  anteriorly  to  form  thin  flanges  pro­jecting dorsally; clypeus bearing distinct serial teeth (Fig. lC and 3 A and B); occipital collar present; eyes absent. Antenna  10-segmented,  scape  length  0.54-0.63  mm. Mandible  flattened,  linear,  striolate,  with  sharp  apical tooth;  subapical  teeth  absent,  although  some denticles. may be present (Fig: 2B). Labrum bilobed with smoothly rounded median cleft (Fig. 2A); maxillary palpus two-segmented (Fig. 2C); lateral shoulder of stipes bearing three stout setae (Fig. 2C); stipes without transverse stipital groove; galea crown flattened,  invested  with numerous setae  (Fig.  2C);  maxillary  comb typical  (Fig.  2C); la­cinial  apex  bearing  numerous,  irregularly  placed,  fine. setae (Fig. 2C); labial palpus two-segmented (Fig. 20). Alitrunk as in Fig. I A and B and 3C; alitrunk length I. 10-1.26 mm; without conspicuous suturing. Pronotum glossy  except   for  anterior  dorsal   slope,  this  densely punctate; posterior two-thirds of alitrunk subopaque with well-developed  longitudinal rugae, especially on pleurae (Fig.  3C);  propodeal  junction  marked  by  sharply  pro­duced  ridge  extending  laterally  and  bordering  declivi­tous face of propodeum; declivitous face densely punctate. Petiole and  postpetiole  as  in  Fig. 10; waist (petiole plus postpetiole) length 0.63-.68 mm; petiole node length 0.29-0.36  mm,  width  0.18-0.27  mm;  postpetiolar  node length   0.27-0.36   mm,   width   0.20-0.27   mm. Waist opaque, densely punctate;  subpetiolar process  triangular with  rounded  apex, usually  directed  ventrally  or poste­riorly (Fig. 10).Gaster as in Fig. I A and B; gaster length 1.13-1.26 mm. Gaster glossy, lacking obvious punctures. Tarsal claws simple

Etymology
This species is named for the Asante people of Ghana.