Aphaenogaster

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Aphaenogaster
Temporal range: Lutetian - recent
A. swammerdami worker
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Stenammini
Genus: Aphaenogaster
Mayr, 1853
Type species
Aphaenogaster sardoa
Mayr, 1853
Diversity[1]
200 species
Synonyms
  • Deromyrma Forel, 1913
  • Nystalomyrma Wheeler, 1916

Aphaenogaster is a genus of myrmicine ants in the tribe Stenammini. About 200 species have been described, including 18 fossil species.[1] They occur worldwide except in South America south of Colombia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Antarctica.[2]

Aphaenogaster colonies have monomorphic workers. They have four-segmented antennal clubs and 12-segmented antennae.[3]

In Australia, they often build dense, conspicuous nests.[4] Nest entrances are generally funnel-shaped with diameters up to 4 cm, 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.[3] Where it occurs, Aphaenogaster bioturbation is an important soil and landscape process.[4]

Aphaenogaster ants probably get most of their 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.[3]

Species

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File:Aphaenogaster dlusskyana PIN3387-172 left profile.jpg
Aphaenogaster dlusskyana worker in amber
File:Aphaenogaster gonacantha casent0107566 profile 1.jpg
Aphaenogaster gonacantha worker
File:Aphaenogaster.lepida.-.wheeler.svg
A. lepida worker and male
File:Aphaenogaster balcanica.png
A. balcanica
File:Aphaenogaster longiceps.jpg
A. longiceps
File:Aphaenogaster occidentalis.jpg
A. occidentalis
File:Aphaenogaster pythia.jpg
A. pytia
File:Aphaenogaster rudis.jpg
A. rudis
File:Aphaenogaster subterranea.jpg
A. subterranea
File:Aphaenogaster tennesseensis.jpg
A. tennesseensis

References

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  1. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ^ a b c Genus Aphaenogaster Archived October 9, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ a b Richards, P.J. (2009) Aphaenogaster ants as bioturbators: impacts on soil and slope processes. Earth-Science Reviews 96: 92-106.
  5. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  6. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  7. ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  8. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
[edit | edit source]
  • Error creating thumbnail: File missing Media related to Lua error in Module:Commons_link at line 62: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). at Wikimedia Commons

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