Key to Aenictus of India

This worker key is based on: [[Media:Bharti et al 2012.pdf| Bharti, H.; Wachkoo, A. A.; Kumar, R. 2012. Two remarkable new species of Aenictus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from India. Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology 15:291-294.]]

Note that this key does not include Aenictus kodungallurensis or Aenictus malakkaparensis, both of which were described after Bharti et al.'s key was published.

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Aenictus
 * Ants of India (species list)
 * India Regional Project page

1

 * Mandibles narrow, 3- or 4-toothed, and in closed position their inner borders are often (but not always) separated from the anterior clypeal border by a large gap . . . . . 2


 * Mandibles broad and triangular; bearing a distinct apical tooth and a preapical tooth, followed by at least 4 or 5 smaller teeth or denticles, the posteriormost of which are much smaller than the apical tooth; mandibular gap lacking . . . . . 5

2
return to couplet #1
 * Anterior clypeal border entire and convex and bearing approximately 6 small but distinct teeth; a small (HW, 0.51–0.53 mm), shining, very hairy brownish yellow species with very short scapes (SI, 66–69) . . . . . Aenictus brevicornis


 * Anterior clypeal border lacking teeth, and emarginate . . . . . 3

3
return to couplet #2
 * Scapes very short (SI, 58–61); junction of propodeal faces an even convex curve . . . . . 4


 * Scapes longer (SI of at least 70); junction of propodeal faces angulate . . . . . Aenictus ceylonicus

4
return to couplet #3
 * Clypeus strongly emarginate; mandibles thick, strongly curved inward; at closure the inner mandibular borders are separated from the anterior clypeal border by a gap as wide as the maximum width of the scape . . . . . Aenictus doryloides


 * Clypeus straight or slightly convex; mandibles neither conspicuously thickened or curved inward; in closure the inner mandibular borders either reach the anterior clypeal border or are separated from it by a gap much narrower than in doryloides . . . . . Aenictus piercei

5
return to couplet #1
 * “Typhlatta spots” present; these are a pair of large, pale, circular areas covering most of the posterolateral portions of the head and contrasting sharply with the much darker remainder of the head . . . . . 6


 * “Typhlatta spots” absent . . . . . 9

6
return to couplet #5
 * Subpetiolar process prominent and angular . . . . . 7


 * Subpetiolar process absent or at most very low and rounded . . . . . Aenictus gracilis

7
return to couplet #6
 * Seen from the side, the propodeal faces join through a smooth curve . . . . . Aenictus laeviceps


 * Seen from the side, the propodeal faces join in a sharp angle . . . . . 8

8
return to couplet #7
 * Pronotal dorsum microreticulate and opaque; a somewhat larger species, HW, 0.79–0.92 mm . . . . . Aenictus binghamii


 * Pronotal dorsum smooth and shining; HW, 0.63–0.78 mm . . . . . Aenictus fergusoni

9
return to couplet #5
 * Subpetiolar process large and angulate . . . . . 10


 * Subpetiolar process either absent or else merely a low, evenly round lobe . . . . . 11

10
return to couplet #9
 * Whole mesosoma opaque and sculuptured, mandibles with 5 indistinct denticles . . . . . Aenictus shillongensis


 * Pronotum shining, remainder of mesosoma and petiole microreticulate; mandibles with more than 5 denticles . . . . . Aenictus peguensis

11
return to couplet #9
 * Mesonotum demarcated from mesopleuron by a conspicuous ridge . . . . . 12


 * Mesonotum not visibly demarcated from mesopleuron . . . . . 13

12
return to couplet #11
 * Reddish brown; head width 0.84 mm; metanotal impression present; parafrontal ridge about 0.22mm long . . . . . Aenictus indicus


 * Blackish; head width 0.7–0.74 mm; metanotal impression absent; parafrontal ridge about 0.27 mm long . . . . . Aenictus wilsoni

13
return to couplet #11
 * Anterior clypeal border dentate; small species, HW 0.43-0.53 mm; scapes long, scape index at least 102 and usually much more . . . . . 14


 * Anterior clypeal border not dentate; larger species, HW at least 0.57 mm; scapes shorter, scape index not exceeding 102 and usually much less . . . . . 15

14
return to couplet #13
 * Head width 0.43–0.44 mm; scape index 116–119 . . . . . Aenictus wroughtonii


 * Head width 0.46–0.53 mm; scape index 102–108 . . . . . Aenictus sagei

15
return to couplet #13
 * Occiput constricted behind into narrow but distinct “collar”; propodeal angle (junction of basal and declivitous faces) longer in profile than maximum length of propodeal spiracle, very thin acute, and far overhanging the declivitous face; a large species (HW, 0.78–0.81 mm) with long (SI about 137) . . . . . Aenictus dentatus


 * Occiput not constricted behind into a large collar; propodeal angle no longer than maximum spiracle width and not overhanging the declivitous face . . . . . 16

16
return to couplet #15
 * Pronotum densely microreticulate and opaque . . . . . Aenictus aitkenii


 * Pronotum mostly smooth and shining . . . . . 17

17
return to couplet #16
 * Longitudinal rugulae present on propodeal dorsum; head shining except for microreticulate band of occiput . . . . . Aenictus punensis


 * Longitudinal rugulae lacking on propodeal dorsum; head opaque and everywhere microreticulate . . . . . Aenictus pachycerus