Aenictus wayani, Jaitrong, Weeyawat & Yamane, Seiki, 2011

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 : 22

Aenictus wayani sp. nov.

( Figs. 20–22 )

Types. Holotype. Worker from Indonesia, Sulawesi, Gorontalo, Mt. Tilongkabila, 800 m alt., 30 I 2010, Sk. Yamane leg. CE10-SKY-64 (MZB). One hundred paratype workers, same data as holotype (BMNH, MCZC, MHMG, MZB, SKYC, THNHM).

Measurements. Holotype and paratype workers (n = 10): TL 3.90–4.05 mm; HL 0.83–0.88 mm; HW 0.70– 0.78 mm; SL 0.70–0.78mm; ML 1.33–1.45 mm; PL 0.30–0.33 mm; CI 85–91; SI 97–100.

Description of worker (holotype and paratypes). Head in full-face view longer than broad, with sides slightly convex and posterior margin almost straight; occipital carina narrow but complete. Antennal scape relatively long, extending much beyond 2/3 of head length; antennal segments II–X each longer than broad; II almost as long as each of III–VI. Frontal carina short, slightly extending beyond the level of posterior margin of torulus. Parafrontal ridge almost absent. Masticatory margin of mandible with a large apical tooth followed by a medium-sized subapical tooth and 4–5 denticles; basal margin lacking denticles. Mesosoma slender; promesonotum in profile convex dorsally and sloping gradually to metanotal groove. Propodeum in profile with weakly convex dorsal outline; propodeal junction rounded; declivity of propodeum shallowly concave, and encircled with a thin rim; area below propodeal spiracle distinctly impressed; opening of propodeal spiracle clearly circular with its diameter about 2.5 times as long as diameter of postpetiolar spiracle. Petiole clearly longer than high, with its dorsal outline convex; subpetiolar process weakly developed, triangular, with its ventral outline feebly convex or straight, and anteroventral corner angulate. Postpetiole almost as long as petiole, with its node almost as long as high and dorsal outline convex.

Head including mandible entirely smooth and shiny; antennal scape dorsally smooth but ventrally sculptured. Pronotum smooth and shiny except for the anteriormost portion punctate; mesonotum smooth and shiny; mesopleuron macroreticulate, bearing several longitudinal rugae; metapleuron irregularly sculptured. Propodeal dorsum entirely smooth and shiny; lateral face of propodeum wrinkled but shiny. Petiole punctate. Postpetiole entirely smooth and shiny. Legs smooth and shiny.

Head and mesosoma with sparse obliquely standing hairs; longest pronotal hair 0.38–0.40 mm long. Entire body reddish-brown, with a relatively large typhlatta spot on occipital corner.

Non-type material examined. INDONESIA: SE. Sulawesi, Pangalulu, Wolaki, 150 m alt., 12 X 1999, K. Ogata & K. Masaoka leg. ( SKYC, THNHM).

Etymology. The specific name is dedicated to Mr. I. Wayan Kertayasa, the leader of the climbing club Mapala Tarantula, Gorontalo University, Sulawesi.

Distribution. Sulawesi ( Fig. 25 ).

Bionomics. So far A. wayani has been known only from Sulawesi. It inhabits primary forests in lowlands (Pangalulu, Wolaki, ca. 150 m alt.) and highlands (type series, CE10-SKY-64, ca. 800 m alt.). The type series was collected at night.

Remarks. A. wayani is very similar to A. currax , A. diclops , A. huonicus , A. pfeifferi , and A. parahuonicus . Among these this species is more closely related to A. currax and A. diclops than to the others in having a slender mesosoma and relatively long antennal scape (SI 97–104; less than 95 in A. pfeifferi , A. huonicus , and A. parahuonicus ). However, A. wayani is separated from A. diclops by its propodeal and petiolar dorsa being smooth and shiny (entirely sculptured in A. diclops ), and is easily distinguished from A. currax as follows: antennal scape relatively shorter (SI 97–100 in A. wayani ; 104 in A. currax ); basal margin of mandible lacking denticles in A. wayani (it is sinuate with 3–4 ill-defined denticles in A. currax ).

Figures

FIGURES 17 – 22. Workers of Aenictus currax group. 17 – 19, A. parahuonicus sp. nov., holotype; 20 – 22, A. wayani sp. nov, holotype. 17, 21, Head in full-face view; 18, 22, habitus in profile; 19, 20, dorsal view of body.

FIGURES 23 – 25. Distribution of Aenictus currax group. 23, A. cornutus and A. parahuonicus sp. nov.; 24, A. gracilis; 25, A. glabrinotum sp. nov., A. pfeifferi, and A. wayani sp. nov.