Aenictushoelldobleri sp. n., a new species of the Aenictusceylonicus group (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from China, with a key to the Chinese members of the group.

ABSTRACT: Aenictus is the most species-rich genus of army ants in the subfamily Dorylinae and one of the most species rich ant genera in China and the world. In this paper, a new species of the Aenictusceylonicus group, Aenictushoelldobleri sp. n., is described and illustrated based on the worker caste. The new species occurs in the subtropical forests of south-east China and is morphologically most similar to Aenictushenanensis Li & Wang, 2005 and Aenictuswudangshanensis Wang, 2006. Aenictushoelldobleri sp. n. can be distinguished from both species by the shape of the subpetiolar process. The new species also resembles AenictuslifuiaeTerayama 1984 and Aenictusthailandianus Terayama & Kubota, 1993 but clearly differs in various features of the cuticular sculpture. A key to the Chinese species of the Aenictusceylonicus group based on the worker caste is provided, which may help to reassess and clarify the taxonomic status of the abundant Chinese records of the true Aenictusceylonicus (Mayr, 1866), a species which almost certainly does not occur in China. Several new locality records are given, among them the first record of Aenictuswatanasiti Jaitrong & Yamane, 2013 from China.

SUBMITTER: Staab M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4547374 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature