Aenictus currax

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 : 5-6

Aenictus currax group

Diagnosis. Head in full-face view with occipital corner convex and with a distinct protuberance, which gives the head a unique “horned” appearance; occipital margin forming a carina. Antenna 10-segmented. Anterior clypeal margin roundly convex, lacking denticles. Mandible subtriangular; its masticatory margin with a large apical tooth followed by a medium-sized subapical tooth, and 4–6 denticles. Frontal carina short, extending a little 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 present; its anteroventral corner always angular, and directed forward and downward.

Head and first gastral segment entirely smooth and shiny. Body black, dark brown to reddish brown; typhlatta spot present, always located at the occipital corner of head.

Remarks. Our concept agrees well with Wilson’s (1964) definition of the “ currax group”. This species group is closely related to the A. leptotyphlatta group and A. laeviceps group, all bearing typhlatta spots on the worker head, and also sharing the black or dark brown to reddish brown body, and entirely smooth and shiny head ( Jaitrong & Eguchi 2010). The A. currax group is distinguished from the latter two by the following characteristics: anterior clypeal margin roundly convex, lacking denticles; head in full-face view with occipital corner convex and with a distinct protuberance, which gives the head a unique “horned” appearance; in profile “ typhlatta spot” always located at occipital corner; subpetiolar process present, triangular with the apex always directed forward and downward.

Distribution. Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Malay Peninsula (S. Thailand and W. Malaysia), Sumatra, Borneo (Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and E. Kalimantan), Sulawesi, New Guinea, and Australia.

Currently valid names for the Oriental, Indo-Australian, and Australasian forms. A. cornutus Forel, 1900 ; A. currax Emery, 1900 ; A. diclops Shattuck, 2008 ; A. glabrinotum Jaitrong et Yamane , sp. nov.; A. gracilis Emery, 1893 ; A. huonicus Wilson, 1964 ; A. pfeifferi Zettel et Sorger, 2010 ; A. parahuonicus Jaitrong et Yamane , sp. nov.; A. wayani Jaitrong et Yamane , sp. nov.