Aenictus leptotyphlatta

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 : 8

Aenictus leptotyphlatta group

Diagnosis. Head in full-face view with occipital corner rounded; occipital margin lacking collar. Antenna 10-segmented; antennal scape short, reaching or extending slightly beyond midlength of head. Anterior margin of clypeus slightly convex medially, lacking denticles. Mandible subtriangular; its masticatory margin with a large apical tooth followed by 4–5 relatively large teeth. Frontal carina short and thin, extending posteriad, not beyond the level of posterior margin of torulus; anterior curved extension of frontal carina reaching or extending beyond the level of anterior clypeal margin. With mesosoma in profile promesonotum weakly convex dorsally and sloping gradually to propodeum. Legs slender. Subpetiolar process well developed, triangular, with its apex directed downward.

Head and first gastral segment entirely smooth and shiny. Body black to dark brown; typhlatta spot present but not clear.

Remarks. This group is closely related to the A. currax group and A. laeviceps group (see under A. currax group). The A. leptotyphlatta group exhibits conditions intermediate between the A. currax group and A. laeviceps group. It has the anterior clypeal margin lacking denticles as in the A. currax group, but the occipital corner of the head is similar to that of the A. laeviceps group. Furthermore the typhlatta spot is less clearly demarcated from the background, and much paler in coloration than in the other typhlatta-bearing species groups.

Distribution. Thailand.

Currently valid names for the Oriental, Indo-Australian, and Australasian forms. A. leptotyphlatta Jaitrong et Eguchi, 2010 .