Aenictus philiporum

This rare species has been collected only a limited number of times on Cape York Peninsula, Queensland and in eastern Papua New Guinea. Little is known concerning its biology (Shattuck, 2008).

Identification
A member of the pachycerus group. Head capsule smooth posteriorly and weakly punctate between the frontal carinae and above the mandibular insertions; pronotum with large smooth areas dorsally and laterally, other areas micro-reticulate.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia. Indo-Australian Region: New Guinea.

Biology
A colony from Bandong was found running in file during the late afternoon in midmountain rain forest. The workers wer carrying brood consisting of half-grown larvae; thus the colony is interpreted as being in the nomadic phase. Three Pheidole soldiers, representing at least 2 species, were retrieved from the mandibles of the the workers. (Wilson 1964)

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.



Nomenclature

 * . Aenictus philiporum Wilson, 1964a: 473, fig. 74 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Queensland), NEW GUINEA (Papua New Guinea).
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 5 paratype workers.
 * Type-locality: holotype Australia: Queensland, Cape York, Iron Range, i.1958 (P.F. & P.J. Darlington); paratypes with same data.
 * Type-depository: MCZC.
 * Status as species: Taylor & Brown, 1985: 53; Taylor, 1987a: 6; Bolton, 1995b: 60; Shattuck, 2008c: 13 (redescription).
 * Distribution: Australia, Papua New Guinea.

Description
Mandible broad, triangular, with 6–9 widely spaced short teeth; anterior clypeal border broadly convex, even with or slightly posterior to anterior margin of frontal lobes; parafrontal ridges present; subpetiolar process weakly developed, broadly rounded anteriorly, flat posteriorly; head smooth laterally, remainder weakly to moderately punctate; posterior section of pronotum and entire mesonotum completely smooth to very weakly reticulate; anterior of pronotum, mesopleuron and entire propodeum weakly punctuate; body red-brown, head, antennae and legs lighter yellow-red.

Measurements. Worker (n = 10) - CI 88–94; HL 0.66–0.71; HW 0.59–0.67; MTL 0.47–0.57; ML 0.96–1.06; SI 83–89; SL 0.52–0.59.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * CSIRO Collection
 * Janda M., G. D. Alpert, M. L. Borowiec, E. P. Economo, P. Klimes, E. Sarnat, and S. O. Shattuck. 2011. Cheklist of ants described and recorded from New Guinea and associated islands. Available on http://www.newguineants.org/. Accessed on 24th Feb. 2011.
 * Sagata, K., A.L. Mack, D.D. Wright and P.J. Lester. 2010. The influence of nest avaiability on the abundance and diversity of twig-dwelling ants in a Papua New Guinea forest. Insectes Sociaux 57:333-341
 * Shattuck, S. O. 2008. Review of the ant genus Aenictus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Australia with notes on A. ceylonicus (Mayr). Zootaxa 1926:1-19.
 * Wilson E. O. 1964. The true army ants of the Indo-Australian area (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Dorylinae). Pacific Insects 6: 427-483.