Aphaenogaster occidentalis

Aphaenogaster occidentalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Attini
Genus:	Aphaenogaster
Species:	A. occidentalis
Binomial name
Aphaenogaster occidentalis (Emery, 1895) ] Specimen Label
Synonyms
Aphaenogaster subterranea borealis Wheeler, W.M., 1915 Aphaenogaster subterranea valida Wheeler, W.M., 1915

This species is known to be a pest in Washington homes (DeMarco, 2015).

Identification

Aphaenogaster occidentalis has relatively short spines and scapes (DeMarco, 2015).

Keys including this Species

• Key to US Aphaenogaster species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 53.726668° to 31.48889°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Nearctic Region: Canada (type locality), United States (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.

Biology

Flight Period

					X	X	X	X
Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Source: antkeeping.info.

• Check details at Worldwide Ant Nuptial Flights Data, AntNupTracker and AntKeeping.

 Explore: Show all Flight Month data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.

Castes

Worker

.

.

Images from AntWeb

Worker. Specimen code casent0005725. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by UCDC, Davis, CA, USA.

Queen

Queen. .	Owned by Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Male

Male. .	Owned by Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Nomenclature

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

• occidentalis. Stenamma (Aphaenogaster) subterraneum subsp. occidentale Emery, 1895c: 301 (w.) U.S.A. (Washington).
  • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
  • Type-locality: U.S.A.: Washington State, Pullman City (T. Pergande).
  • Type-depository: MSNG.
  • Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1953b: 61 (l.).
  • Combination in Aphaenogaster (Attomyrma): Emery, 1921f: 60.
  • Subspecies of subterranea: Wheeler, W.M. 1910g: 565; Santschi, 1911d: 5; Wheeler, W.M. 1917a: 515; Emery, 1921f: 60; Essig, 1926: 860; Menozzi, 1932b: 310; Cole, 1936a: 36; Cole, 1937a: 101; Cole, 1942: 364; Creighton, 1950a: 149; Smith, M.R. 1951a: 797; Smith, M.R. 1958c: 118; Beck, et al. 1967: 68; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1362; Blacker, 1992: 5 (error).
  • Status as species: Hunt & Snelling, 1975: 21; Yensen, et al. 1977: 183; Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1978: 391; Allred, 1982: 453; Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1986g: 37; Bolton, 1995b: 71; Ward, 2005: 31; Shattuck & Cover, 2016: 13; Mackay & Mackay, 2017: 335 (redescription).
  • Senior synonym of borealis: Creighton, 1950a: 150; Smith, M.R. 1958c: 118; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1362; Bolton, 1995b: 71; Shattuck & Cover, 2016: 13; Mackay & Mackay, 2017: 335.
  • Senior synonym of valida: Shattuck & Cover, 2016: 13; Mackay & Mackay, 2017: 335.
  • Material of the unavailable name manni referred here by Creighton, 1950a: 150; Smith, M.R. 1958c: 118; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1362; Bolton, 1995b: 71; Mackay & Mackay, 2017: 336.
  • Distribution: Canada, U.S.A.
• borealis. Aphaenogaster subterranea subsp. borealis Wheeler, W.M. 1915b: 412 (w.) CANADA (British Columbia).
  • Type-material: 13 syntype workers.
  • Type-locality: Canada: British Columbia, Kootenay Lake, Lardo (J.C. Bradley).
  • Type-depository: MCZC.
  • Combination in Aphaenogaster (Attomyrma): Emery, 1921f: 60.
  • Subspecies of subterranea: Wheeler, W.M. 1917a: 516; Emery, 1921f: 60; Smith, M.R. 1951a: 797.
  • Junior synonym of occidentalis: Creighton, 1950a: 150; Smith, M.R. 1958c: 118; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1362; Bolton, 1995b: 68; Shattuck & Cover, 2016: 13; Mackay & Mackay, 2017: 335.
• valida. Aphaenogaster subterranea subsp. valida Wheeler, W.M. 1915b: 411 (w.q.m.) U.S.A. (Colorado).
  • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated, “numerous”), 7 syntype queens, 5 syntype males.
  • Type-locality: U.S.A.: Colorado, Cheyenne Cañon, nr Colorado Springs (W.M. Wheeler).
  • Type-depositories: AMNH, MCZC.
  • Combination in Aphaenogaster (Attomyrma): Emery, 1921f: 60.
  • Subspecies of subterranea: Wheeler, W.M. 1917a: 516; Emery, 1921f: 60; Creighton, 1950a: 150; Smith, M.R. 1951a: 797; Smith, M.R. 1958c: 118; Beck, et al. 1967: 68; Smith, M.R. 1967: 352; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1362; Bolton, 1995b: 74; Mackay & Mackay, 2002: 77.
  • Junior synonym of occidentalis: Shattuck & Cover, 2016: 13; Mackay & Mackay, 2017: 335.

Type Material

• Stenamma (Aphaenogaster) subterraneum occidentale: Holotype or syntype, worker(s), Pullman, Washington, United States, 46°44′0″N 117°11′0″W, T. Pergande.
• Aphaenogaster subterranea borealis: Syntype, 13 workers, Lardeau (as Lardo), Kootenay Lake, British Columbia, Canada, 50°09′0″N 116°57′0″W, J.C. Bradley, Museum of Comparative Zoology.
• Aphaenogaster subterranea valida: Syntype, workers, 7 queens, 5 males, North Cheyenne Cañon, near Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, 38°48′0″N 104°53′0″W, W.M. Wheeler, Museum of Comparative Zoology; 2 very large colonies under huge stones.

References

• Bolton, B. 1995b. A new general catalogue of the ants of the world. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 504 pp. (page 71, catalogue)
• Branstetter, M.G., Longino, J.T., Reyes- López, J.L., Brady, S.G., Schultz, T.R. 2022. Out of the temperate zone: A phylogenomic test of the biogeographical conservatism hypothesis in a contrarian clade of ants. Journal of Biogeography 00, 1-14 (doi:10.1111/jbi.14462).
• Creighton, W. S. 1950a. The ants of North America. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 104: 1-585 (page 150, Senior synonym of borealis, and material of the unavailable name manni referred here.)
• DeMarco, B.B. 2015. Phylogeny of North American Aphaenogaster species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) reconstructed with morphological and DNA data. Ph.D. thesis, Michigan State University.
• Emery, C. 1895d. Beiträge zur Kenntniss der nordamerikanischen Ameisenfauna. (Schluss). Zool. Jahrb. Abt. Syst. Geogr. Biol. Tiere 8: 257-360 (page 301, worker described)
• Emery, C. 1921c. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Myrmicinae. [part]. Genera Insectorum 174A:1-94 94: 1-94 + 7 (page 60, Combination in Aphaenogaster (Attomyrma))
• Hazarika, H.N., Khanikor, B. 2021. Integration of morphological and molecular taxonomic characters for identification of Odontoponera denticulata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae:Ponerinae) with the description of the antennal sensilla. Zoologischer Anzeiger 293: 89-100 (doi:10.1016/j.jcz.2021.05.009).
• Hunt, J. H.; Snelling, R. R. 1975. A checklist of the ants of Arizona. J. Ariz. Acad. Sci. 10: 20-23 (page 21, Raised to species)
• Jansen, G., Savolainen, R. 2010. Molecular phylogeny of the ant tribe Myrmicini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 160(3), 482–495 (doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2009.00604.x).
• Shattuck, S.O., Cover, S. 2016. Taxonomy of some little-understood North American ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 4175: 10–22 (doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4175.1.2).
• Wheeler, G. C.; Wheeler, J. 1953b. The ant larvae of the myrmicine tribe Pheidolini (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 55: 49-84 (page 61, larva described)
• Wheeler, W. M. 1915b. Some additions to the North American ant-fauna. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 34: 389-421.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Allred D. M. 1982. Ants of Utah. The Great Basin Naturalist 42: 415-511.
• Allred, D.M. 1982. The ants of Utah. Great Basin Naturalist 42:415-511.
• Beck D. E., D. M. Allred, W. J. Despain. 1967. Predaceous-scavenger ants in Utah. Great Basin Naturalist 27: 67-78
• Blacker, N.C. 1992. Some Ants from Southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia. J. Entomol. Soc. Bri. Columbia 89:3-12.
• Blacker, N.C. 1992. Some ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Journal of the Entomological Society of British Columbia 89:3-12
• Borchert, H.F. and N.L. Anderson. 1973. The Ants of the Bearpaw Mountains of Montana (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 46(2):200-224
• Boulton A. M., Davies K. F. and Ward P. S. 2005. Species richness, abundance, and composition of ground-dwelling ants in northern California grasslands: role of plants, soil, and grazing. Environmental Entomology 34: 96-104
• Cole A. C., Jr. 1937. An annotated list of the ants of Arizona (Hymen.: Formicidae). [part]. Entomological News 48: 97-101.
• Cole A. C., Jr. 1942. The ants of Utah. American Midland Naturalist 28: 358-388.
• Cole, A.C. 1936. An annotated list of the ants of Idaho (Hymenoptera; Formicidae). Canadian Entomologist 68(2):34-39
• DeMarco B. B., and A. I. Cognato. 2016. A multiple-gene phylogeny reveals polyphyly among eastern North American Aphaenogaster species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zoologica Scripta DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12168
• Des Lauriers J., and D. Ikeda. 2017. The ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the San Gabriel Mountains of Southern California, USA with an annotated list. In: Reynolds R. E. (Ed.) Desert Studies Symposium. California State University Desert Studies Consortium, 342 pp. Pages 264-277.
• Glesne R. S. 2000. Terrestrial riparian arthropod investigations in the Big Beaver Creek Research Natural Area, North Cascades National Park Service Complex, 1995-1996: Part IV, Hymenoptera: Formicidae. 48 pages
• Gregg, R.T. 1963. The Ants of Colorado.
• Higgins R. J. 2010. The ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) communities of the central interior of British Columbia: adaptations to a temperature-constrained environment. ??? 1-183.
• Hoey-Chamberlain R. V., L. D. Hansen, J. H. Klotz and C. McNeeley. 2010. A survey of the ants of Washington and Surrounding areas in Idaho and Oregon focusing on disturbed sites (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology. 56: 195-207
• Hunt J. H. and Snelling R. R. 1975. A checklist of the ants of Arizona. Journal of the Arizona Academy of Science 10: 20-23
• La Rivers I. 1968. A first listing of the ants of Nevada. Biological Society of Nevada, Occasional Papers 17: 1-12.
• Longino, J.T. 2010. Personal Communication. Longino Collection Database
• Mackay, W. P. and E. Mackay. 2002. The ants of New Mexico (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Edwin Mellen Press, Lewiston, NY.
• MontBlanc E. M., J. C. Chambers, and P. F. Brussard. 2007. Variation in ant populations with elevation, tree cover, and fire in a Pinyon-Juniper-dominated watershed. Western North American Naturalist 67(4): 469–491.
• Post D. C., and R. L. Jeanne. 1982. Rate of exploration of arboreal baits by ants in an old-field habitat in Wisconsin. American Midland Naturalist 108(1): 88-95.
• Ratchford, J.S., S.E. Wittman, E.S. Jules, A.M. Ellison, N.J. Gotelli and N.J. Sanders. 2005. The effects of fire, local environment and time on ant assemblages in fens and forests. Diversity and Distributions 11:487-497.
• Rees D. M., and A. W. Grundmann. 1940. A preliminary list of the ants of Utah. Bulletin of the University of Utah, 31(5): 1-12.
• Santschi F. 1911. Formicides récoltés par Mr. le Prof. F. Silvestri aux Etats Unis en 1908. Bullettino della Società Entomologica Italiana 41: 3-7.
• Schmidt A. C., L. H. Fraser, C. N. Carlyle, and E. R. L. Bassett. 2012. Does cattle grazing affect ant abundance and diversity in temperate grasslands? Rangeland Ecology & Management 65: 292–298.
• Smith F. 1941. A list of the ants of Washington State. The Pan-Pacific Entomologist 17(1): 23-28.
• Ward P. S. 1987. Distribution of the introduced Argentine ant (Iridomyrmex humilis) in natural habitats of the lower Sacramento Valley and its effects on the indigenous ant fauna. Hilgardia 55: 1-16
• Ward P. S. 2005. A synoptic review of the ants of California (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 936: 1-68.
• Wheeler G. C., and J. Wheeler. 1986. The ants of Nevada. Los Angeles: Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, vii + 138 pp.
• Wheeler G. C., and J. Wheeler. 1987. A Checklist of the Ants of South Dakota. Prairie Nat. 19(3): 199-208.
• Wheeler W. M. 1915. Some additions to the North American ant-fauna. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 34: 389-421.
• Wheeler W. M. 1917. The mountain ants of western North America. Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 52: 457-569.
• Wheeler, G.C. and J. Wheeler. 1978. Mountain ants of Nevada. Great Basin Naturalist 35(4):379-396
• Wheeler, G.C. and J. Wheeler. 1988. A checklist of the ants of Montana. Psyche 95:101-114
• Wheeler, G.C. and J. Wheeler. 1988. A checklist of the ants of Wyoming. Insecta Mundi 2(3&4):230-239