Aenictus laeviceps

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), Zootaxa 3128, pp. 1-46 : 7-8

Aenictus laeviceps group

Diagnosis. Head in full-face view with occipital corner rounded; occipital margin forming a carina. Antenna 10- segmented; antennal scape relatively long, usually attaining posterior corner of head. Anterior clypeal margin roundly convex, bearing 5–12 denticles. Mandible subtriangular; its masticatory margin with a large apical tooth followed by a medium-sized subapical tooth and 5–8 denticles. Frontal carina short, extending slightly beyond posterior margin of torulus; parafrontal ridge feeble and incomplete or almost absent. With mesosoma in profile promesonotum convex dorsally and sloping gradually to metanotal groove. Legs slender; subpetiolar process well developed, triangular; its apex usually directed backward and downward.

Head and first gastral segment entirely smooth and shiny. Body black, dark brown to reddish brown; typhlatta spot present, usually located anterior to occipital corner.

Remarks. Our concept agrees well with Wilson’s (1964) definition of the “ laeviceps group”. This group is closely related to the A. currax group and A. leptotyphlatta group (see under A. currax group). The A. laeviceps group is distinguished from the latter two by the following characteristics: anterior clypeal margin roundly convex with several denticles; head in full-face view with occipital corner rounded; in profile typhlatta spot usually located anterior to occipital corner; subpetiolar process well developed, with the apex directed downward and backward.

Distribution. India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malay Peninsula (S. Thailand and W. Malaysia), Sumatra, Borneo (Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and E. Kalimantan), Java, Philippines, and Sulawesi.

Currently valid names for the Oriental, Indo-Australian, and Australasian forms. A. alticola Wheeler et Chapman, 1930 ; A. binghami Forel, 1900 ; A. bodongjaya Jaitrong et Yamane , sp. nov.; A. breviceps Forel , stat nov.; A. brevinodus Jaitrong et Yamane , sp. nov.; A. fergusoni Forel, 1900 ; A. fulvus Jaitrong et Yamane , sp. nov.; A. hodgsoni Forel, 1900 ; A. laeviceps (Smith, 1858) ; A. luzoni Wheeler et Chapman, 1925 ; A. montivagus Jaitrong et Yamane , sp. nov.; A. rotundicollis Jaitrong et Yamane , sp. nov.; A. siamensis Jaitrong et Yamane , sp. nov.; A. sonchaengi Jaitrong et Yamane , sp. nov.