Aenictus orientalis (Karavaiev) Karavaiev, 2008

Shattuck, Steven O., 2008, Review of the ant genus Aenictus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Australia with notes on A. ceylonicus (Mayr), Zootaxa 1926, pp. 1-19 : 18

Aenictus orientalis (Karavaiev) , n. stat.

Eciton (Aenictus) ceylonicus subsp. orientalis Karavaiev, 1926: 423 (junior synonym of A. ceylonicus by Wilson, 1964: 452; new status as valid species).

Aenictus papuanus Donisthorpe, 1941: 129 (junior synonym of A. ceylonicus by Wilson, 1964: 452; removed from synonymy with A. ceylonicus , new synonym of A. orientalis ).

Aenictus similis Donisthorpe, 1948: 131 (junior synonym of A. ceylonicus by Wilson, 1964: 452; removed from synonymy with A. ceylonicus , new synonym of A. orientalis ).

Types. Eciton (Aenictus) ceylonicus subsp. orientalis: Three worker syntypes from Wammar, Aru Island, Indonesia (ANIC, examined). Aenictus papuanus: Two worker syntypes from Malufu, Wharton Range, Papua New Guinea (MCZC, examined). Aenictus similis: Fourteen worker syntypes from Maffin Bay, Irian Jaya, Indonesia (2 in MCZC, examined).

Comments. In this species the pronotal humeral angles are well developed, causing the anterodorsal surface of the pronotum to be nearly vertical, in dorsal view the area between the humeral angles is weakly convex to weakly concave. This is in contrast to the otherwise similar A. prolixus and A. turneri where the humeral angles are weakly developed and the anterodorsal section of the pronotum is gradually sloping, the area between the humeral angles being moderately convex. In addition, A. orientalis can be separated from A. prolixus by the shorter scapes (SI 65–82 vs. 89–96) and from A. turneri by the yellow head and legs which contrast with the yellow-red mesosoma (the body is essentially uniform in colour in A. turneri ). This species is known from eastern Indonesia and New Guinea.