Bikash Sahoo, Ramakrishnaiah Sahanashree, Dharma Rajan Priyadarsanan & Aniruddha Datta- Roy

Asian Myrmecology  | August 24, 2024

A new species, Aenictus kodaguensis sp. nov., belonging to the genus Aenictus Shuckard, 1840, has been described from India based on the worker caste. This species is a member of the Aenictus pachycerus group and was discovered during a field survey conducted at the Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary and the Honey Valley private estate, both located in the Kodagu district of Karnataka. The species is named Aenictus kodaguensis after its type locality, Kodagu district, where the Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary is situated. This discovery contributes valuable information to the biodiversity of the Aenictus pachycerus group and enhances our understanding of its geographical distribution. Further research and exploration in different regions may lead to the identification of additional species within this group and provide deeper insights into their ecological significance and evolutionary history.