Aenictus aitkenii Forel ^HNS, rev. stat.

Aenictus aitkenii Forel ^HNS, 1901: 475 (junior synonym of A. aratus ^HNS by Wilson, 1964: 446; revised status as valid species). Aenictus aratus var. asiatica Forel ^HNS, 1911: 453 (junior synonym of aratus ^HNS by Wilson, 1964: 446; removed from synonymy with A. aratus ^HNS, new synonym of A. aitkenii ^HNS).

Types. Aenictus aitkenii ^HNS: Worker syntypes from Kanara, Thana and Travancore, India (not examined). Aenictus aratus var. asiatica ^HNS: Worker syntype from Sri Lanka (not examined).

Comments. This species is similar to A. aratus ^HNS (with which it has been treated as a junior synonym) and A. nesiotis ^HNS but differs in having a broader head (CI> 87 versus CI <88 in nesiotis ^HNS), and broader and more bulbous petiole and postpetiole (both are narrower in aratus ^HNS and nesiotis ^HNS). The scape is also relatively longer than in the others (SI> 115 versus SI <115). It is similar to levior ^HNS in the shape of the head but differs in having longer scapes. This species is so far known only from India and Sri Lanka.