Aenictus pfeifferi

Inhabits primary rainforests from 40 to 700 m elevation.

Identification
Jaitrong and Yamane (2011) - A member of the currax group. This species is very similar to Aenictus currax, Aenictus diclops, Aenictus huonicus, Aenictus parahuonicus and Aenictus wayani. However, it is easily separated from them by the head having only 2 standing hairs on the vertex (in the others the head with some shorter standing hairs in addition to two long hairs on vertex) and long pronotal hairs shortest (0.23–0.25 mm) among the members of this group (except in A. glabrinotum that has no hairs on promesonotum) (see A. huonicus).

Zettel & Sorger (2010) - Head with distinct “Typhlatta spots.” Occiput on each side with small elevation. Parafrontal ridge present, very short. Clypeal teeth absent, margin nearly straight. Mandible broad, with subapical tooth and ca. 7 minute denticles. Antenna 10-segmented. Pronotal humeri unarmed. Propodeum low, rounded. Subpetiolar process low. Tarsi wide, tarsomere 5 strongly bilobed at dorsoapical margin.

Aenictus pfeifferi is closely related to Aenictus gracilis and reaches, together with this species, couplet 20 in the key by Wilson (1964). This is a widely distributed species, from Sri Lanka to the Philippines, which – according to Wilson (1964) – expresses some intraspecific variation, especially in HW, SI, and size of occipital protuberances. For comparison, we studied a syntype of A. gracilis from Sarawak, a syntype of Aenictus martini from Myanmar (both specimens in the Natural History Museum Vienna), and non-type specimens from Sri Lanka, Borneo, and the Philippines. Aenictus pfeifferi differs clearly from A. gracilis by larger head width (HW 0.78 - 0.87 mm in A. pfeifferi vs. 0.50 - 0.64 mm in A. gracilis; fide Wilson 1964), differently sculptured propodeum (smooth in A. pfeifferi vs. totally reticulate or at most medially with narrow stripe of reduced sculpture in A. gracilis) and strongly different tarsal structures. All tarsi of A. pfeifferi are strongly enlarged. On the foretarsus, tarsomeres 3 and 4 are wider then long in A. pfeifferi but slightly longer than wide in A. gracilis; and tarsomere 5 is hardly (abouth one fourth) longer than wide in A. pfeifferi but ca. 1.5 times longer than wide in A. gracilis. The apical width of tarsomere 5 of the hind tarsus is much wider than in A. gracilis (0.14-0.15 mm vs. 0.08-0.10 mm). The dorsoapical margin of tarsomere 5 is strongly bilobed in both species. Tarsal structures vary strongly among species of Aenictus and – although ignored in the past – they may serve as useful characteristics for species distinction.

Distribution
Known from Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia.

Biology
The type locality lies in the Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak, Borneo. The new species was collected in an alluvial forest along a concrete trail along Melinau river from Park Headquarters to Moonmilk cave at an elevation of ca. 40-50 m a.s.l. (4°2’30” N, 114°48’46” E; google maps estimate).

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  pfeifferi. Aenictus pfeifferi Zettel & Sorger, 2010b: 116, figs. 1-4, 13 (w.) BORNEO. See also: Jaitrong & Yamane, 2011: 21.

In the Natural History Museum Vienna we have seen specimens from the Khao Sok National Park in southern Thailand which are extremely similar to types of A. pfeifferi, except for a slightly more developed sculpture on mesopleuron and anterior metapleuron. Although we are inclined to regard this difference as an intraspecific variation, we do not include this series in the type material of A. pfeifferi.

Worker
Holotype: BL 4.35 mm; HW 0.85 mm; HL 1.00 mm; CI 85; SL 0.81 mm; SI 95; ML 1.52 mm; PHL 0.40 mm.

Paratypes (n = 10): BL 3.75-4.50 mm; HW 0.78-0.87 mm; HL 0.91-1.02 mm; CI 83-88; SL 0.67-0.81 mm; SI 86-95; ML 1.39-1.57 mm; PHL 0.33-0.42 mm.

Head blackish brown with large and distinct “Typhlatta spots.”

Mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole and gaster medium to dark brown dorsum of mesosoma, node of petiole, and gaster tergites strongly infuscated; venter of abdomen usually pale brown, first sternite often infuscated. Antenna medium brown, scape often infuscated. Legs medium brown, in middle part of femora, middle and hind tibia near base, and tarsomeres 1-2 on middle and hind legs variably infuscated.

Pilosity: Setae scattered and of very different lengths. Longest setae on scape (several), on occiput (one pair) and on pronotum (one pair); setae of medium length on sides (only two pairs) and venter of head, on mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole, and gaster. Dorsum and sides of mesosoma with some short, almost appressed setae intermixed.

Structural characteristics: Head completely smooth. In full face view occipital margin slightly biconcave, two small elongate impressions separating weakly developed occipital tubercles. Parafrontal ridge weakly developed as a low, elongate tubercle lateral of antennal insertion. Mandibles punctate (with hair pits). Antennae long, flagellum relatively slender. Mesosoma with dorsal outline similar to A. gracilis, gently biconvex, at propodeum evenly downcurved. Sculpture on mesosoma strongly reduced; dorsum and sides almost smooth. Most anterior part of pronotum delicately reticulate. Mesopleuron strongly reticulate and strongly contrasting with other parts of mesosoma; on its dorsal part some indistinct wrinkles. Similar, weakly developed wrinkles below propodeal stigma. Petiole elongate, subpetiolar process very low, forming a sharp angle at its anterior edge. Postpetiole of similar shape as petiole, its anteroventral edge sharp. Both petiole and postpetiole with delicate granulation laterally and ventrally, dorsum smooth. Gaster smooth except for hair pits; most anterior part of tergite 1 reticulate.

Jaitrong and Yamane (2011) - Measurements (n = 10 including the four paratypes): TL 4.35–5.20 mm; HL 0.93–1.13 mm; HW 0.80–1.03 mm; SL 0.60–0.88 mm; ML 1.35–1.75 mm; PL 0.33–0.38 mm; CI 86–93; SI 75–85.

Redescription of worker (Paratype and non-types). Head in full-face view slightly longer than broad, with sides slightly convex and posterior margin almost straight or feebly concave; occipital carina complete, not interrupted medially. Antennal scape extending only 2/3 of head length; antennal segments II–X each longer than broad; II almost as long as each of III–VI. Frontal carina very short, not extending beyond the level of posterior margin of torulus. Parafrontal ridge almost absent. Masticatory margin of mandible with a large apical tooth followed by a medium-sized subapical tooth and 5–6 denticles; basal margin with a series of ill-defined denticles. Mesosoma relatively elongate and stout; promesonotum in profile convex dorsally and sloping gradually to metanotal groove; mesopleuron clearly demarcated from metapleuron by a groove. Propodeum in profile with weakly convex dorsal outline; propodeal junction rounded; declivity of propodeum shallowly concave, and encircled with a thin rim; area below propodeal spiracle distinctly impressed; opening of propodeal spiracle clearly circular with its diameter about 2.4–2.5 times as long as diameter of postpetiolar spiracle. Petiole slightly longer than high, with its dorsal outline convex; subpetiolar process weakly developed and triangular, with its ventral outline feebly convex, and anteroventral corner roundly angulate or produced. Postpetiole almost as long as petiole, with its dorsal outline convex.

Head entirely smooth and shiny; mandible finely striate in basal 1/2 to 2/3, and smooth in apical and peripheral parts; antennal scape dorsally smooth but ventrally sculptured. Pronotum smooth and shiny except for the anteriormost portion punctate; mesonotum smooth and shiny; mesopleuron macroreticulate, bearing several longitudinal rugae; metapleuron superficially sculptured and shiny. Propodeum dorsally entirely smooth and shiny; lateral face of propodeum wrinkled but shiny. Petiole and postpetiole entirely smooth and shiny. Legs smooth and shiny.

Vertex with a pair of long standing hairs; mesosoma dorsally with relatively sparse standing hairs mixed with sparse short decumbent hairs; longest pronotal hair 0.23–0.25 mm long. Hairs on legs generally short and appressed to surface; mid- and hind tibiae without outstanding long hairs on outer face; hairs on fore femur also short and decumbent. Entire body light brown to brown, with a rather large typhlatta spot on the occipital corner.

Type Material
Holotype worker (in Natural History Museum Vienna, Austria) and 74 paratype workers (in Natural History Museum Vienna, Austria; AntBaseNet Collection, Ulm, Germany; Sarawak Forest Department Collection, Kuching, Borneo; coll. D. M. Sorger, Vienna, Austria; coll. H. & S. V. Zettel, Vienna, Austria) from Borneo, Sarawak, Gunung Mulu National Park, Moonmilk Trail, 4°2’30” N, 114°48’46” E, 13.XI.2009, leg. D. M. Sorger (81)

Jaitrong and Yamane (2011) - The holotype and 74 paratype workers from Borneo, Sarawak, Gunung Mulu N.P. (four paratypes were examined,  and ).

Etymology
We dedicate this species to Dr. Martin Pfeiffer, who contributed much effort in ecological and taxonomic investigations on the ants of Borneo and who enabled the junior author’s participation in an expedition to Sarawak in 2009.