Aenictus mentu

This species is currently known only from the type series, collected in South Sudan by Neal Weber in 1939.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Sudan.

Biology
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 * . Aenictus mentu Weber, 1942a: 40, fig. 2 (w.) SOUTH SUDAN.
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated, “one colony”).
 * Type-locality: South Sudan (“Anglo-Egyptian Sudan”): Imatong Mts, 4.viii.1939, 4200 ft. No. 1436 (N.A. Weber).
 * Type-depository: MCZC.
 * Status as species: Weber, 1943c: 292; Bolton, 1995b: 60.
 * Distribution: South Sudan.

Type Material

 * Syntype, SOUTH SUDAN: Equatoria Region, Imatong Mountains (Neal A. Weber) 24 Jul- 5 Aug. 1939. (1w) [MCZC:ENT:26131] MCZC [Material seen on web by Gomez, 2022].

Taxonomic Notes
Gomez (2022): The type material is located at the MCZC, but it wasn’t available for examination for this study. Also, no other specimens were found in any of the major museum collections that provided access or material loans. I have provisionally placed this species in the same group as Aenictus rixator due to measurements from the type images (HW~0.40, CI~90), habitus, clypeal shape and mandibles. Based on paucity of material and the limited image quality, presently I have to refrain from offering a more accurate diagnosis or description until the types can be analyzed in detail.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Borowiec M. L. 2016. Generic revision of the ant subfamily Dorylinae (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). ZooKeys 608: 1–280.
 * Weber N. A. 1942. New doryline, cerapachyine and ponerine ants from the Imatong Mountains, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 44: 40-49.
 * Weber N. A. 1943. The ants of the Imatong Mountains, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 93: 263-389.