Aenictus philiporum Wilson

Shattuck, S. O., 2008, Review of the ant genus Aenictus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Australia with notes on A. ceylonicus (Mayr)., Zootaxa 1926, pp. 1-19 : 13

Aenictus philiporum Wilson

(Figs 15-17, 28)

Aenictus philiporum Wilson , 1964: 473, fig. 74.

Types. Holotype worker and 5 paratype workers from Iron Range, Queensland ( MCZC, examined).

Diagnosis. Head capsule smooth posteriorly and weakly punctate between the frontal carinae and above the mandibular insertions; pronotum with large smooth areas dorsally and laterally, other areas micro-reticulate.

Worker Description. Mandible broad, triangular, with 6-9 widely spaced short teeth; anterior clypeal border broadly convex, even with or slightly posterior to anterior margin of frontal lobes; parafrontal ridges present; subpetiolar process weakly developed, broadly rounded anteriorly, flat posteriorly; head smooth laterally, remainder weakly to moderately punctate; posterior section of pronotum and entire mesonotum completely smooth to very weakly reticulate; anterior of pronotum, mesopleuron and entire propodeum weakly punctuate; body red-brown, head, antennae and legs lighter yellow-red.

Measurements. Worker (n = 10) - CI 88-94; HL 0.66-0.71; HW 0.59-0.67; MTL 0.47-0.57; ML 0.96- 1.06; SI 83-89; SL 0.52-0.59.

Material examined. Australia: Queensland: Claudie River, Iron Range (Monteith,G.) ( ANIC). Papua New Guinea: Morobe: Bulolo (Lowery,B.B.) ( ANIC).

Comments. This rare species has been collected only a limited number of times on Cape York Peninsula, Queensland and in eastern Papua New Guinea. Nothing is known concerning its biology.