Aphaenogaster barbara

Aphaenogaster barbara
Aphaenogaster barbara
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Attini
Genus:	Aphaenogaster
Species:	A. barbara
Binomial name
Aphaenogaster barbara Shattuck, 2008 Specimen labels

This is a fairly common and widely distributed Queensland species which occurs in drier forested habitats such as dry sclerophyll and savannah woodlands. Nests are typical for the Australian species of the genus with large funnel-shaped entrances. Aphaenogaster barbara has previously been confused with A. pythia. However, they differ significantly and there is little chance of confusing these two species.

Identification

Hairs on underside of head randomly distributed and not forming a distinct psammophore; head relatively broad, its posterior margin broadly arched in full face view; scape relatively short; erect hairs on mesosomal dorsum tapering to sharp points; propodeal spines long, the dorsal surfaces of propodeum and propodeal spines connected through a gentle concavity followed by a gentle convexity (so that the base of each spine is raised slightly above the dorsal surface of the propodeum). This species can be separated from the similar A. kimberleyensis by the broader head and shorter scapes.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Australian Aphaenogaster Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -15.05° to -25.58333°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Australasian Region: Australia (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.

Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

• barbara. Aphaenogaster barbara Shattuck, 2008a: 28, figs. 1, 2, 21, 22, 24 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Queensland).
  • Type-material: holotype worker, 33 paratype workers.
  • Type-locality: holotype Australia: Queensland, 3 km. NE Mt Webb, 15°03S, 145°09E, 30.iv.-3.v.1981 (J.E. Feehan); paratypes with same data.
  • Type-depositories: ANIC (holotype); ANIC, MCZC, QMBA (paratypes).
  • Distribution: Australia.

Type Material

• Holotype, worker, 3km NE Mt. Webb, Queensland, Australia, 15°03′0″S 145°09′0″E, Feehan,J.E., ANIC32-031017, Australian National Insect Collection.
• Paratype, 27 workers, 3km NE Mt. Webb, Queensland, Australia, 15°03′0″S 145°09′0″E, Feehan,J.E., ANIC32-001260, Australian National Insect Collection.
• Paratype, 3 workers, 3km NE Mt. Webb, Queensland, Australia, 15°03′0″S 145°09′0″E, Museum of Comparative Zoology.
• Paratype, 3 workers, 3km NE Mt. Webb, Queensland, Australia, 15°03′0″S 145°09′0″E, Queensland Museum.

Description

Posterior margin of head broadly arched in full face view, the arch beginning at the occipital collar and with at most a weak angle separating the posterior and lateral margins of the head (often posterior and lateral margins forming a continuous surface). Hairs on venter of head randomly distributed and not forming a distinct psammophore. Mandibular sculpture composed of regularly sized striations. Erect hairs on mesosomal dorsum tapering to sharp points. Propodeal spines long. Dorsal surfaces of propodeum and propodeal spines connected through a gentle concavity followed by a gentle convexity (so that the base of each spine is raised slightly above the dorsal surface of the propodeum). Petiolar node (in dorsal view) longer than broad.

Measurements

Worker (12 specimens measured): CI 84-91; EI 17-20; EL 0.20-0.24mm; HL 1.22-1.51mm; HW 1.04-1.29mm; ML 1.82-2.17mm; MTL 1.23-1.62mm; SI 133-156; SL 1.55-1.82mm. (Definition of measurements.)

References

• Bodlah, I., Rasheed, M.T., Huang, X., Bodlah, M.A. 2019. First records of two species of genus Messor Forel, 1890 (Fromicidae: Myrmecinae) along with trophic associations with aphids from Pakistan. The Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences 29(4): 2019.
• Borowiec, L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
• Borowiec, L., Salata, S. 2020. Review of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Jordan. Annals of the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom, Entomology 29 (online 2): 1-26 (doi:10.5281/zenodo.3733156).
• Salata, S., Borowiec, L., Trichas, A. 2020. Review of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Crete, with keys to species determination and zoogeographical remarks. Monographs of the Upper Silesian Museum No 12: 5–296 (doi:10.5281/ZENODO.3738001).
• Shattuck, S.O. 2008a. Australian ants of the genus Aphaenogaster. Zootaxa 1677: 25-45.(taxonomy, revision)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Shattuck S. O. 2008. Australian ants of the genus Aphaenogaster (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 1677: 25-45.
• Shattuck, S. O. "Australian ants of the genus Aphaenogaster (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)." Zootaxa 1677 (2007): 25-45.