Aenictus dirangensis

The only knonw specimens of this Indian species were manually collected from beneath a stone in Dirang village falling in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. The village is situated at an elevation of 1560 meters, with an average daily temperature of 20˚C. The ground is covered with grass and surrounded by Kiwi plantation.

Identification
Aenictus dirangensis shows similarities with Aenictus yangi, Aenictus wilaiae and Aenictus khaoyaiensis.

It can be differentiated from A. yangi on the basis of following characteristics:
 * 1) the subpetiolar process in Aenictus yangi is elongate, subrectangular, and slightly projecting anteroventrally (well developed and subrectangular with anterior and posterior corners acutely or bluntly angular in A. dirangensis)
 * 2) in Aenictus yangi the dorsal face of the propodeum is mostly smooth and shiny and the lateral face is partly smooth and shiny whereas (dorsal face of the propodeum has transverse striation and the lateral face is reticulated in A. dirangensis)
 * 3) in A. yangi lateral propodeal margins gently sloping posteriorly (lateral propodeal margins converge more sharply posteriorly in A. dirangensis)
 * 4) the relative width of the propodeal face seems narrower in A. yangi (the relative width of the propodeal face wider in A. dirangensis)
 * 5) postpetiole angular in lateral view in A. yangi (postpetiole convex in profile view in A. dirangensis)
 * 6) the metanotal groove is weakly impressed in A. yangi (distinct in A. dirangensis)

From A. wilaiae it can be differentiated based on following characteristics:
 * 1) in A. wilaiae promesonotal dorsum smooth and shiny except for anteriormost portion punctate (promesonotal dorsum entirely smooth and shiny in A. dirangensis)
 * 2) in A. wilaiae subpetiolar process generally very low, with its anteroventral corner angulate and ventral margin convex (well developed and subrectangular with acute anterior corners and blunt posterior corners in A. dirangensis)
 * 3) in A. wilaiae mesopleuron with longitudinal rugae, lateral face of propodeum with 2-3 short longitudinal rugae, petiole and postpetiole densely punctate (mesopleuron, lateral face of propodeum reticulate, petiole and postpetiole dorsum smooth with lateral faces moderately reticulated in A. dirangensis)

From A. khaoyaiensis it can be differentiated based on the following characteristics:
 * 1) in A. khaoyaiensis mandible with 0-1 tooth/denticle between subapical and basal teeth (mandible with 3-4 teeth/denticles) (Mandible with 2-6 teeth/denticles between subapical and basal teeth (mandible with more than 4 teeth/denticles) in A. dirangensis)
 * 2) subpetiolar process in A. khaoyaiensis is low, with its anteroventral corner angulate and ventral margin weakly convex (well developed and subrectangular with acute anterior corners and blunt posterior corners in A. dirangensis)
 * 3) in A. khaoyaiensis promesonotum smooth except for anteriormost portion punctate and mesopleuron with several irregular longitudinal rugae (promesonotum smooth and mesopleuron reticulated in A. dirangensis)
 * 4) mandibles striate in A. khaoyaiensis (in A. dirangensis mandibles smooth)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Nomenclature

 * . Aenictus dirangensis Dhadwal & Bharti, 2023: 390, figs. 1-4 (w.) INDIA (Arunachal Pradesh).

Type Material

 * Holotype worker (PUAC—T 07), from India, Arunachal Pradesh, Dirang, 27.3566º N, 92.23720º E, 1560m, handpicking, 03.ix.2019, Tarun Dhadwal leg.
 * Paratypes: Fourteen workers (PUAC-T 08-17), same data as holotype.