Key to Australian Aenictus Species

The following key to Australian Aenictus is based on Shattuck (2008).

1

 * A ridge (parafrontal ridge) present on the front of the head starting between the antennal and mandibular insertions and extending posteriorly; head capsule varying from smooth posteriorly and weakly punctate between the frontal carinae and above the mandibular insertions to completely punctuate => 2


 * Area between antennal and mandibular insertions smooth or at most slightly angular but never ridged (parafrontal ridge absent); head capsule entirely smooth => 3

2

 * Pronotum with large smooth areas dorsally and laterally, other areas micro-reticulate => Aenictus philiporum


 * Pronotum entirely sculptured with dense micro-reticulations => 4

3

 * Head with large pale patches near the posterolateral corners; subpetiolar process generally absent but sometimes present as a slight carina => Aenictus diclops


 * Head essentially uniform in colour; subpetiolar process large and rectangular => 5

4

 * Scape relatively long (scape index > 107) => Aenictus nesiotis


 * Scape relatively short (scape index < 103) => Aenictus aratus

5

 * Scape relatively long (scape index > 89) => Aenictus prolixus


 * Scape relatively short (scape index < 91) => 6

6

 * Body larger (HW > 0.62mm); sculpturing on pronotum extending posteriorly onto the main pronotal body => Aenictus acerbus


 * Body smaller (HW < 0.62mm); sculpturing on pronotum limited to the anterior sections around the collar, the main body of pronotum smooth => Aenictus turneri