Aenictus nishimurai Terayama & Kubota, 1993

Jaitrong, Weeyawat & Yamane, Seiki, 2012, Review of the Southeast Asian species of the Aenictus javanus and Aenictus philippinensis species groups (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Aenictinae), ZooKeys 193, pp. 49-78 : 59-61

Aenictus nishimurai Terayama & Kubota, 1993 Figs 57A

Aenictus nishimurai Terayama and Kubota 1993: 70, figs 9-10; Jaitrong et al. 2011: 321, figs 10-12.

Types.

Holotype and 10 paratype workers (NIAST, SKYC) from Thailand, Changmai Prov. [Chiangmai Prov.], Doi Suthep (1,500 m alt.), 18.VIII.1992, M. Terayama and S. Kubota leg. A paratype in SKYC was examined.

Measurements.

Paratype: TL 2.40 mm; HL 0.58 mm; HW 0.48 mm; SL 0.25 mm; ML 0.75 mm; PL 0.20 mm; CI 83; SI 53.

Larger workers(non-types, n= 7): TL 2.66-2.90 mm; HL 0.60-0.65 mm; HW 0.53-0.58 mm; SL 0.33-0.35 mm; ML 0.83-0.90 mm; PL 0.23-0.25 mm; CI 88; SI 61-64. Smaller workers(non-types, n= 4): TL 1.95-2.25 mm; HL 0.48-0.50 mm; HW 0.38-0.43 mm; SL 0.20-0.25 mm; ML 0.55-0.65 mm; PL 0.15-0.18 mm; CI 79-85; SI 53-59.

Description of worker

(paratype and non-type workers). Head in full-face view longer than broad, with sides slightly convex and posterior margin almost straight or feebly concave; seen in profile occipital corner of head rounded. Antennal scape reaching midlength of head; antennal segment II almost as long as broad; III-VIII each slightly broader than long; terminal segment 2.3 times as long as broad. Anterior margin of clypeus bearing 7-10 denticles. Masticatory margin of mandible with 3 acute teeth including a large apical tooth; basal margin lacking denticles. Mesosoma seen in profile weakly convex dorsally or almost flat; in profile propodeum almost flat dorsally; suture between mesopleuron and metapleuron absent; propodeal junction dully angulated, forming an almost right angle; declivity of propodeum shallowly concave, encircled by a thin rim. Petiole nearly as long as high, its dorsal outline convex; subpetiolar process well developed, subrectangular, its ventral margin nearly straight and longer than posterior margin; postpetiole seen in profile almost as long as petiole, with round node.

Head including antennal scape entirely smooth and shiny; mandible finely striate with outer zone smooth and shiny. Dorsal and lateral surface of pronotum smooth and shiny except for anteriormost part microreticulate; mesothorax, metapleuron, and propodeum microreticulate. Petiole entirely microreticulate. Postpetiole microreticulate except for smooth and shiny area on dorsal surface.

Head and mesosoma dorsally with relatively sparse standing hairs mixed with sparse short hairs; longest pronotal hairs 0.15-0.18 mm. Head yellowish brown; mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole reddish brown; gaster yellowish brown, but paler than head.

Non-type material examined.

VIETNAM: N. Vietnam, Ha Tai Prov., Ba Vi N.P., 400-600 m alt., 12.XI.1999, K. Eguchi leg., Eg99-VN-107 (SKYC, THNHM); same loc., 11.XI.1999, K. Eguchi leg., Eg99-VN-84 (SKYC, THNHM); Bac Giang, Tay Yen Tu, 400 m alt., 23.V.2004, K. Eguchi leg., Eg04-VN-100 (SKYC). LAOS: Vientiane Prov., Pak Ngum Dist., Phang Dang Village, 14.VI.2010, W. Jaitrong leg., WJT10-LAO19, Sk. Yamane leg., LA10-SKY-56 (AMK, SKYC, THNHM). THAILAND: N. Thailand, Chiang Mai Prov., Mae Tang dist., 26.IV.2000, W. Jaitrong leg., WJT00-TH01 (SKYC, THNHM); W. Thailand, Kachanaburi Prov., Sai Yok N.P., 140 m alt., 30.VI.2002, Sk. Yamane leg., TH02-SKY-19 (SKYC, THNHM); NE. Thailand, Saraburi Prov., Phukae B.G., 1.VII.2002, Sk. Yamane leg., TH02-SKY-41 (SKYC, THNHM).

Distribution.

Vietnam, Laos and Thailand.

Bionomics.

No biological information is available for Aenictus nishimurai . However, judging from the localities cited above this species is distributed from lowland to highland (200-1,500 m) and inhabits primary, secondary and disturbed forests.

Remarks.

This species is most similar to Aenictus doydeei . See under Aenictus doydeei for details.