Aphaenogaster tokarainsulana

Aphaenogaster tokarainsulana
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Stenammini
Genus:	Aphaenogaster
Species:	A. tokarainsulana
Binomial name
Aphaenogaster tokarainsulana Watanabe & Yamane, 1999

Foraging workers turn their gasters downwards. This species is found from coastal to inland regions in woodland or its margins. It nests in the soil, under stones or in rotting wood.

Identification

Total length of workers around 3 - 5.5 mm. Head and mesosoma dark reddish brown; mandibles, petiole, postpetiole and legs lighter; gaster often darker; scapes gradually lightening in color toward their apices; funiculi light reddish brown. Scapes, mesosoma and legs relatively rather short compared to other Japanese Aphaenogaster species. Head covered with striae and punctures; longitudinal striae on frontal area not reaching occipital carina; posterior portion of head dull, with irregular striation and punctures. Pronotal humeri angulate. Mesonotum distinctly raised, often higher than pronotum, covered with striae and punctures. Mesopleura dull, covered with minute, dense punctures and parallel striae. (Japanese Ant Image Database)

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: China, Japan (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Biology

Chromosome number 2n=34.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's New General Catalogue, a catalogue of the world's ants.

• tokarainsulana. Aphaenogaster tokarainsulana Watanabe & Yamane, 1999: 729, fig. 12 (w.q.m.) JAPAN.

References

• Watanabe, H.; Yamane, S. 1999. New species and new status in the genus Aphaenogaster (Formicidae) in the Oriental and Australian regions. In: Identification Guide to the Aculeata of the Nansei Islands. Pp. 728-736 in: Yamane, S.; Ikudome, S.; Terayama, M (page 729, described)