Aphaenogaster hesperia

Aphaenogaster hesperia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Attini
Genus:	Aphaenogaster
Species group:	crocea
Species:	A. hesperia
Binomial name
Aphaenogaster hesperia Santschi, 1911 Specimen Labels

Perez-Delgado et al. (2023) found specimens of Strumigenys hesperia in a contact zone between the pine and cloud forests (laurel forest), with overflowing trade-wind clouds, the so-called ‘humid pine forest’ (association Sideritido solutae-Pinetum canariensis subasc. ericetosum arboreae) (del Arco-Aguilar & Rodríguez Delgado 2018). Pinus canariensis was the dominant species, but other species such as Cistus monspeliensis, Morella faya and Erica canariensis were also present (Figure 3B). All specimens were found under half buried rocks. The number of specimens found under rocks varied from few specimens (one or two) to various tens (Figure 3C). Several eggs and pupae were found attached to the hidden part of the rock and were rapidly retired by workers after the rock was lifted. Specimens occurred aggregated in a very narrow area. Other ant species also recorded for this area were Crematogaster alluaudi, Plagiolepis schmitzii, Temnothorax gracilicornis and Tetramorium depressum (see Santschi 1937, Seifert 2020, Schulz 1994, Emery 1882, Cagniant 1997, Espadaler 2007, respectively).

Photo Gallery

• 

  Perez-Delgado et al. (2023), Fig. 3. Sampling sites. (A) Nitrophilous community in Bajamar (type locality). (B) Pine forest of Las Raíces (new locality). (C) Detail of the brood chamber, Aphaenogaster hesperia workers can be seen carrying larvae.

Distribution

• 

  Perez-Delgado et al. (2023), Fig. 1. Map showing the geographic position of the Canary Islands (A) and the sampling site and type locality within Tenerife (B). Type locality (Bajamar) is marked with a red polygon and new locality (Las Raíces) is marked with a red dot (C).

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 28.550833° to 28.467222°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: Canary Islands (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.

Castes

• 

  Perez-Delgado et al. (2023), Fig. 2. Aphaenogaster hesperia worker, head (A), dorsal (B) and lateral (C) view.

Nomenclature

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

• hesperia. Aphaenogaster hesperia Santschi, 1911i: 284 (w.) SPAIN (Canary Is).
  • Type-material: 2 syntype workers.
  • Type-locality: Spain: Canary Is, Tenerife I., Bajamar, 1905 (A. Cabrera y Diaz).
  • Type-depository: NHMB.
  • Combination in Aphaenogaster (Attomyrma): Emery, 1921f: 58.
  • Status as species: Emery, 1921f: 58; Wheeler, W.M. 1927g: 103; Wellenius, 1955: 5; Báez & Ortega, 1978: 189; Barquin Diez, 1981: 66; Hohmann, et al. 1993: 146; Bolton, 1995b: 70; Borowiec, L. 2014: 12.
  • Distribution: Spain (Canary Is).

References

• Bolton, B. 1995b. A new general catalogue of the ants of the world. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 504 pp. (page 70, catalogue)
• Borowiec, L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
• Emery, C. 1921c. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Myrmicinae. [part]. Genera Insectorum 174A:1-94 94: 1-94 + 7 (page 58, combination in Aphaenogaster (Attomyrma))
• Perez-Delgado, A.J., Lugo, D., Santos-Perdomo, I., Jimenez-Garcia, E., Suarez, D. 2023. Rediscovery of the Canary Islands endemic Aphaenogaster hesperia Santschi, 1911 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae). Zootaxa 5383(1), 67–74 (doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5383.1.5).
• Santschi, F. 1911i. Formicides de diverses provenances. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 55: 278-287 (page 284, worker described)
• Schifani, E., Alicata, A., Menchetti, M., Borowiec, L., Fisher, B.L., Karaman, C., Kiran, K., Oueslati, W., Salata, S., Blatrix, R. 2022. Revisiting the morphological species groups of West-Palearctic Aphaenogaster ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) under a phylogenetic perspective: toward an evolutionary classification. Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny 80, 627–648 (doi:10.3897/asp.80.e84428).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
• Hohmann H., F. La Roche, G. Ortega, and J. Barquín. 1993. Bienen, Wespen und Ameisen der Kanarischen Inseln. Veröff. Überseemus. Bremen Naturwiss. 12: 14.
• IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
• Santschi, F. "Formicides de diverses provenances." Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique 55 (1911): 278-287.
• Santschi, F. "Fourmis d'Espagne et des Canaries." Boletín de la Real Sociedad española de Historia natural (Madrid) 19 (1919): 241-248.