Aphaenogaster

Taxobox
name = "Aphaenogaster"


image_caption = "A. phillipsi" worker
image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Hymenoptera
familia = Formicidae
subfamilia = Myrmicinae
tribus = Pheidolini
genus = "Aphaenogaster"
genus_authority = Mayr, 1853
type_species = "Aphaenogaster sardoa"
type_species_authority = Mayr, 1853
diversity_link = Aphaenogaster
diversity = > 190 species
range_

range_map_width = 250px
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text.
synonyms ="Nystalomyrma"

"Aphaenogaster" is a genus of myrmicine ants. Almost 200 species have been described, and 11 fossil species are known. They occur worldwide except from South America and Southern Africa.

They are often confused with "Pheidole" or "Pheidologeton". These two have major and minor workers, while "Aphaenogaster" has only a single worker caste. "Pheidole" has a 3-segmented club on its antenna, while "Aphaenogaster" has four segments and a larger body size. "Pheidologeton" has a 11-segmented antenna, while the antenna in "Aphaenogaster" is 12-segmented.Australian Ants Online]

They build very dense, conspicuous nests with many large entrances in a small area. These entrances can have diameters of up to 4 cm and are up to 30 cm deep, which resulted in the common name funnel ants. These nests can be a serious problem for golfers or on pastures and unsealed airstrips, because the fragile surface easily collapses under pressure.

"Aphaenogaster" probably gets most of its food from tended aphids on the roots of plants, which explains that they are rarely seen on the surface. The funnel-shaped openings could play a role in trapping arthropods, which are also eaten.

Although they are not aggressive, they will bite when their nest is disturbed.

pecies

Footnotes

References

* ITIS: [http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=574031 Genus "Aphaenogaster"]
* Australian Ants Online: [http://www.ento.csiro.au/science/ants/myrmicinae/aphaenogaster/aphaenogaster.htm Genus "Aphaenogaster"]

External links

* Dale Ward: [http://www.tightloop.com/ants/aphcoc1.htm "Aphaenogaster cockerelli"]