Genus: Aphaenogaster

Taxonomic History (provided by Barry Bolton, 2013)

Biology:

Aphaenogaster is a genus of elongate, slender ants, which are very fast and agile in the field. Most species nest in the soil under stones or logs; some of the desert species nest in the soil with the nest entrance surrounded by pebbles. These ants are omnivorous, collecting dead insects and tending Homoptera or collect nectar. The colonies are moderately large to very large. This is a common genus in New Mexico and occurs in all habitats, but is especially common in desert regions.
(Modified from Mackay and Mackay, 2002).

Identification:

These ants can usually be easily distinguished by their elongate, slender habitus (general appearance). Their head is usually longer than broad, eye large, convex and placed at the middle of the head. The mesonotum of the worker is elongate and depressed, the propodeum usually has a pair of spines or small teeth. The workers could be confused with the minor workers of Pheidole, but differ in usually being much larger (over 3 mm total length, usually less than 3 mm in Pheidole), and that the antennal club is poorly defined and consists of four segments (well defined in Pheidole and usually consisting of three segments).
(From Mackay and Mackay, 2002).

Taxon Page Images:

Aphaenogaster fulva
Image copyright Alex Wild.

References:

Mackay, W.P. and Mackay, E.E. (2002). The ants of New Mexico (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The Edwin Mullen Press, Lewiston: 400 pp.

Taxon Page Author History

On 2012-04-21 06:48:59 Alex Wild modified Images
On 2012-04-21 06:48:43 Alex Wild modified Images
On 2012-04-21 06:48:28 Alex Wild modified Images
On 2012-04-21 06:47:16 Alex Wild modified Images

7 Species Imaged | View All 7 Species for this genus

Aphaenogaster fulva    

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Aphaenogaster lamellidens    

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Aphaenogaster mariae    

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Aphaenogaster picea    

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Aphaenogaster rudis    

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Aphaenogaster tennesseensis    

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Aphaenogaster treatae    

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