Aenictus fuchuanensis Zhou

Staab, Michael, 2015, Aenictushoelldobleri sp. n., a new species of the Aenictusceylonicus group (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from China, with a key to the Chinese members of the group, ZooKeys 516, pp. 137-155 : 144

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Formicidae

Aenictus fuchuanensis Zhou Figs 2C, 4F

Non-type material examined.

Seven workers from CHINA, Jiangxi Province, near the village Xingangshan, ca. 15 km SE of Wuyuan, 29°5'21"N / 117°55'43"E, 136 m asl, 29.V.2013, hand collection on ground in an early successional tree plantation, leg. Michael Staab, label “MS1422” (1 each in CASC: CASENT0914926, IZAS, and ZMBH).

Distribution.

Guangxi, Hong Kong, Jiangxi (Fig. 6B); Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam.

Remarks.

Aenictus fuchuanesis has been described and illustrated in detail by Jaitrong and Yamane (2013, therein fig. 8 A–C), who extended the original description from Zhou (2001, therein figs 74-75). The seven examined specimens from the North-East of Jiangxi province agree in all aspects with the descriptions of Zhou (2001) and Jaitrong and Yamane (2013). This is so far the northernmost record of Aenictus fuchuanensis . Notably, the species was collected in an experimental tree plantation (see Bruelheide et al. 2014) that was planted four years prior and at the time of collection still had an open character with a maximum tree height of 3 m and abundant patches of bare soil. Hence, Aenictus fuchuanensis may be able to inhabit more open landscapes and not be restricted to forests, which may explain the relatively wide distribution of the species, which occurs from south Thailand to south-east China.