Aenictus
Creators: name: Jaitrong, Weeyawat
name: Yamane, Seiki
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2011
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Formicidae
Aenictus

description: Key to Aenictus species groups based on the worker caste
1. Antenna 8–9-segmented.................................................................. A. silvestrii group
- Antenna 10-segmented................................................................................. 2
2. Anterior clypeal margin with denticles..................................................................... 3
- Anterior clypeal margin lacking denticles................................................................... 5
3. Typhlatta spot present; body black, dark brown to reddish brown.................................. A. laeviceps group
- Typhlatta spot absent; body yellow to yellowish brown....................................................... 4
4. Mandible subtriangular; masticatory margin with 3 teeth including large apical tooth................... A. javanus group
- Mandible triangular; masticatory margin with 9–12 teeth including large apical tooth............... A. wroughtonii group
5. Anterior clypeal margin concave or almost straight; mandible linear; with mandibles closed a gap present between mandibles and anterior clypeal margin............................................................... A. ceylonicus group
- Anterior clypeal margin convex; mandible triangular to subtriangular; with mandibles closed a gap absent between mandibles and anterior clypeal margin.............................................................................. 6
6. Typhlatta spot present; head entirely smooth and shiny........................................................ 7
- Typhlatta spot absent; head sculptured or smooth and shiny.................................................... 9
7. Head in full-face view with occipital corner convex, with a distinct protuberance on occipital corner, which gives the head a unique “horned” appearance................................................................. A. currax group
- Head in full-face view with occipital corner rounded, without lateral protuberance................................. 8
8. Subpetiolar process well developed, subtriangular with its apex directed downward; worker caste completely monomorphic; propodeum normal.................................................................. A. leptotyphlatta group
- Subpetiolar process weakly developed or almost absent; worker caste polymorphic; propodeum inflated in major and interme- diate workers............................................................................ A. inflatus group
9. Parafrontal ridge essentially absent; head entirely smooth and shiny................................. A. piercei group
- Parafrontal ridge well developed; head entirely sculptured or rarely smooth....................................... 10
10. First gastral segment micropunctate; subpetiolar process well developed, with posteroventral corner produced posteriad............................................................................................. A. hottai group
- First gastral segment clearly smooth and shiny or weakly shagreened with smooth and shiny interspaces; subpetiolar process weakly developed or almost absent....................................................................... 11
11. Mesonotum demarcated from mesopleuron by a conspicuous ridge; metanotal groove relatively deep and distinct............................................................................................ A. philippinensis group
- Mesonotum not visibly demarcated from mesopleuron; metanotal groove indistinct................. A. pachycerus group
description: Published as part of Jaitrong, Weeyawat & Yamane, Seiki, 2011, Synopsis of Aenictus species groups and revision of the A. curra x and A. laeviceps groups in the eastern Oriental, Indo-Australian, and Australasian regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Aenictinae), pp. 1-46 in Zootaxa 3128 on pages 4-5, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.207090