Aphaenogaster picena

Aphaenogaster picena
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Attini
Genus:	Aphaenogaster
Species group:	testaceopilosa
Species:	A. picena
Binomial name
Aphaenogaster picena Baroni Urbani, 1971 Specimen Labels

Identification

A member of the A. testaceopilosa group. Boer (2013) - In the Adriatic region A. picena is the largest species. Workers: The shorter scape and head, especially the relation between CI and SI and the less rugulose sculpture on the mesosomal dorsum are characteristic. Gynes: Compared with the other Adriatic species Aphaenogaster balcanica and Aphaenogaster campana, A. picena has a smaller petiole in relation to the postpetiole and the petioles are wider in these species, just like A. semipolita. However the latter has shorter propodeal spines and a shinier gaster. Males: The CI corresponds with A. campana, but A. picena is distinctly different from this species by the propodeal shape.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Aphaenogaster European testaceopilosa-group males
• Key to Aphaenogaster European testaceopilosa-group queens
• Key to Aphaenogaster European testaceopilosa-group workers

• Key to European Aphaenogaster workers

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 43.91666667° to 37.93947°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: Albania, Croatia, Italy (type locality), Slovenia.

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.

• picena. Aphaenogaster picena Baroni Urbani, 1971a: 32, figs. 1-9 (w.q.m.l.) ITALY.
  • Type-material: holotype male, paratype workers, paratype queens, paratype males (numbers not stated, “numerous”).
  • Type-locality: holotype Italy: Sirolo (Ancona), 1.ix.1964 (C. Baroni Urbani); paratypes with same data but “various dates”, including 31.vii.1964, and 1.ix.1964.
  • Type-depository: MSNV (perhaps also NHMB).
  • [Aphaenogaster picena Baroni Urbani, 1966: 69. Nomen nudum.]
  • Status as species: Baroni Urbani, 1971c: 41; Agosti & Collingwood, 1987b: 269 (in key); Bolton, 1995b: 72; Poldi, et al. 1995: 3; Petrov, 2006: 90 (in key); Boer, 2013: 77 (redescription); Borowiec, L. 2014: 16; Lebas, et al. 2016: 250.
  • Distribution: Albania, Croatia, Italy, Slovenia.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Boer (2013):

Worker

Lateral sides of mesosoma with some longitudinal rugulae, usually weak or complete absent. Dorsal side of mesosoma (weakly) scabriculous. Head with longitudinal rugulae on frons, on the rest of the head less distinct, with some cross-connections. Terminal side of propodeum, beneath the propodeal spines smooth. Petiolar nodes punctate. Dorsal side of postpetiole punctate, with longitudinal costulae. First gastral tergite with microstriae. Mesosoma matt, with glossy punctation. Dorsal side of gaster matt to matt satin, beneath the propodeal spines glossy. Lateral sides of petioles and petiolar node glossy. Dorsal side of postpetiole and first gastral tergite matt. Lateral sides of first gastral tergite and legs wax glossy. Antennal club 4-segmented. Petiole with rounded top.

Measurements (n = 37). CI 77–84 (81); CL 1.32–1.64 (1.51) mm; CW 1.01–1.36 (1.21) mm; PHI 29–33 (31); PI 65–88 (75); PPPI: 49–58 (53); PSI 120–173 (153); PSLWI 96–160 (123); PWI 20– 25 (22); RPH 117–153 (135); RPSI 17–64 (43); SI 126–146 (135); SI/CI 154–190 (169); SL 1.43–1.77 (1.64) mm; SPD 1–2 (1.5); SPL 1–5 (2.9).

Queen

Longitudinal rugulae on clypeus, head, mesoscutum, scutellum and anterior side of postpetiole. Transverse rugulae on pronotum, propodeum and posterior sides of the petioles. Punctation distinct on head, weak on mesosoma and petioles. Less than ten transverse microstriae near base of first gastral tergite. Mesosoma slightly glossy, petioles and gaster satin. Anterior side of petiole smooth. Antennal club 4-segmented. Scutellum rises distinctly above mesoscutum and bends almost entirely over metanotum.

Measurements (n = 2). CI 88–91; CL 1.53–1.60 mm; CW 1.39–1.41; PHI 41–42; PI 67–68; PPPI 75–80; PSI 185–200; PSLWI 98–102; PWI 30–32; RPH 126–139; RPSI 47–49; SI 107–110; SI/CI 118–125; SL 1.48–1.55 mm; SPD 1–2; SPL 1–2.

Male

Rugulae are absent from the entire body, except for transverse rugulae (not in all individuals) on dorsal side and longitudinal ones on lateral sides of the propodeum; partly rugulose on mesoscutum and scutellum. Head, mesonotum and petioles punctate. Dorsal side of gaster microreticulated, longitudinal microstriae on base. Head, mesoscutum and petioles matt. Dorsal side of gaster wax glossy. Mesosoma matt with more or less glossy pits. Antennal club 5-segmented. Scape and legs microreticulated, shiny. Pubescence on scape and hind tibia decumbent, their length shorter than diameter of scape/tibia. Scutellum slightly erect above mesoscutum, partly bent over metanotum. With or without frontal midline. One large apical tooth, two or three smaller teeth, four denticles on masticatory margin of the mandibles. A groove between the two knobs at the terminal side of the propodeum. A distinct transverse groove in middle of propodeal dorsum, the posterior part of the propodeum is raised.

Measurements (n = 11). CI 91–100 (94); CL 0.87–1.06 (92); CW 0.82–0.96 (87); EYI 42–46 (44); OCI 41–44 (43); SL/CL 49–54 (51); SL 0.45–0.52 (47).

Type Material

Paratypes: Italy, Sirolo (Marche), 31.viii.1964, 12 workers, 2 males and 16.ix.1964, 1 male (Baroni Urbani; MSNV).

References

• Baroni Urbani, C. 1966. Osservazioni diverse intorno al nomadismo dell'Aphaenogaster picena Baroni con particolare riguardo all'orientamento (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Insectes Soc. 13: 69-86.
• Baroni Urbani, C. 1971a. Studi sulla mirmecofauna d'Italia. IX. Una nuova specie di Aphaenogaster (Hymenoptera Formicidae). Boll. Soc. Entomol. Ital. 103: 32-41 (page 32, figs. 1-9 worker, queen, male described)
• Baroni Urbani, C. 1971c. Catalogo delle specie di Formicidae d'Italia (Studi sulla mirmecofauna d'Italia X). Memorie della Societa Entomologica Italiana 50: 5-287 (page 41, see also)
• Boer, P. 2013. Revision of the European ants of the Aphaenogaster testaceopilosa-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 156, 57–93.
• Bolton, B. 1995b. A new general catalogue of the ants of the world. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 504 pp. (page 72, catalogue)
• Borowiec, L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
• Cantone S. 2017. Winged Ants, The Male, Dichotomous key to genera of winged male ants in the World, Behavioral ecology of mating flight (self-published).
• 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

• Baroni Urbani C. 1966. Osservazioni diverse intorno al nomadismo dell'Aphaenogaster picena Baroni con particolare riguardo all'orientamento (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Insectes Soc. 13: 69-86.
• Baroni Urbani, C. "Studi sulla mirmecofauna d'Italia. IX. Una nuova specie di Aphaenogaster (Hymenotera: Formicidae)." Bollettino della Società Entomologica Italiana 103 (1971): 32-41.
• Boer P. 2013. Revision of the European ants of the Aphaenogaster testaceopilosa-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 156: 57-93.
• Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
• Cagniant H., and A. Ledoux. 1974. Nouvelle description d'Aphaenogaster senilis sur des exemplaires de la région de Banyuls-sur-Mer (P.-O.), France. Vie et Milieu. Série C. Biologie Terrestre 24: 97-110.