Aenictus gutianshanensis

No direct biological information is available. The type series was collected in a single pitfall trap in a secondary mixed evergreen broad-leaved forest. Thus, the species probably lives and forages on and in the leaf-litter preying on small ants of the subfamily Formicinae, as it has been previously reported for species in the A. wroughtonii group (Rościszewski and Maschwitz 1994, Jaitrong et al. 2010). Possible prey species of the genera Prenolepis and Nylanderia are common at the type locality (Staab, 2014).

Identification
Stabb (2014) - Aenictus gutianshanensis can be easily distinguished from all other species of the wroughtonii group by the pronotum, the petiole, and the side of the postpetiole completely finely reticulate. The new species is most similar to Aenictus vieti and Aenictus camposi but slightly larger in all measurements. In addition to having the pronotum and petiole completely finely reticulate, A. gutianshanensis can be easily distinguished from A. vieti and A. camposi by the following characters (characters for A. vieti and A. camposi are given in brackets): ventral margin of subpetiolar process almost straight (ventral margin convex), femora densely punctate (smooth and shiny in Jaitrong et al. 2010, but superficially and irregularly sculptured and shiny in two paratypes examined by the reviewer), postpetiolar process more developed with a rim below (less developed, without ventral rim), and longest standing hairs on pronotal dorsum distinctly longer (maximal 0.13 mm).

Distribution
South-East China

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 * . Aenictus gutianshanensis Staab, 2014: 67, figs. 1-5 (w.) CHINA (Zhejiang).
 * Status as species: Jaitrong & Ruangsittichai, 2018: 113 (in key).

Worker
Measurements and indices. Holotype: TL 3.30, HL 0.68, HW 0.63, SL 0.70, ML 1.17, MTL 0.75, PL 0.30, CI 93, SI 112. Paratypes (n=5): TL 3.10–3.30, HL 0.69–0.75, HW 0.60–0.65, SL 0.65–0.70, ML 1.17–1.25, MTL 0.69–0.83, PL 0.29–0.31, CI 87–91, SI 104–113.

Head in full-face view elliptical, slightly longer than broad, with convex sides and almost straight posterior margin of head. Antennal scape long, reaching posterior corner of head; antennal segments II-X each longer than broad; II as long as III, but longer than each of IV-VII; terminal segment (X) longer than each of II-IX; the last four segments forming an indistinct club. Frontal carina long, extending slightly beyond the posterior margin of antennal torulus. Clypeus short with its anterior margin slightly convex, bearing 7-8 bluntly rounded denticles. Mandible subtriangular, masticatory margin straight, with a large curved apical tooth which is followed by 9-10 minutes teeth on masticatory margin. With mesosoma in profile, pronotum dorsally convex, not distinctly separated from mesonotum by a promesonotal suture. Propodeum slightly lower than promesonotum, its dorsal outline gently sloping posteriorly; propodeal junction angulate; declivity of propodeum straight in the dorsal part, concave in the ventral part when viewed in profile, encircled by a thin rim. Petiole in profile as long as high, its node convex dorsally. Subpetiolar process present, its ventral margin almost straight, bearing a thin rim below, anteroventral corner angulate. Postpetiole slightly longer than petiole, its node convex dorsally in profile; ventral postpetiolar process developed, angulate, bearing a thin rim below, slightly projecting over the posterior part of the petiole.

Head including mandible smooth and shiny; antennal scape punctate. Entire mesosoma finely reticulate, dorsal face of pronotum finely reticulate but shiny, reticulation on mesopleuron, metapleuron and lateral face of propodeum finer than on pronotum, appearing almost punctate in magnification lower 64×. Entire petiole finely reticulate. Postpetiole finely reticulate, except the dorsum smooth and shiny. Gaster smooth and shiny. Coxae finely reticulate, femora densely punctate, tibiae sparsely punctate.

Body except anterior part of mesonotum with abundant standing hairs and interdispersed short hairs; length of longest hairs on dorsa of head and pronotum 0.20–0.30 mm. Antennal scape and legs with abundant standing hairs. Head, mandible, gaster and legs yellowish brown. Mesosoma, antennal scape, petiole and postpetiole reddish brown.

Type Material
Holotype. Worker from China, Zhejiang Province, Gutianshan National Nature Reserve, ca. 30 km NW of Kaihua, 29°12'54"N / 118°7'18"E, ca. 250 m above sea level, 28.VI.2009, leg. Andreas Schuldt, label: “CSP26/SW7(2009)”, deposited in. Paratypes. Five workers, same data as holotype. Three deposited in IZAS; one each deposited in ZMBH and. All type specimens were collected in a single pitfall trap in a secondary mixed evergreen broad-leaved forest.

Etymology
The scientific name is after the type locality, the Gutianshan National Nature Reserve in South-East China.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Staab M. 2014. A new species of the Aenictus wroughtonii group (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from South-East China. ZooKeys 391: 6573. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.391.7213
 * Staab M., A. Schuldt, T. Assmann, H. Bruelheide, and A.M. Klein. 2014. Ant community structure during forest succession in a subtropical forest in South-East China. Acta Oecologia 61: 32-40.