Aphaenogaster picea

Identification
Aphaenogaster picea is diagnosed by the last four antennal segments being lighter in color than the rest of the antenna, by its piceous color and northern ranges in North America (DeMarco, 2015).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Nearctic Region: United States.



Biology
Paluh et al (2015) found this ant was a preferred prey of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus).

Nomenclature

 *  picea. Stenamma (Aphaenogaster) fulvum var. piceum Wheeler, W.M. 1908f: 621 (w.q.m.) U.S.A.
 * [First available use of Stenamma (Aphaenogaster) fulvum subsp. aquia var. piceum Emery, 1895c: 305 (w.q.m.) U.S.A; unavailable (infrasubspecific) name.]
 * Combination in Aphaenogaster (Attomyrma): Emery, 1921f: 57.
 * Subspecies of fulva: Buren, 1944a: 284.
 * Subspecies of rudis: Enzmann, J. 1947b: 150 (in key); Creighton, 1950a: 148; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1362.
 * Senior synonym of punctithorax: Smith, 1951c: 796; Mackay & Mackay, 2017: 359.
 * [Note: picea was made available earlier than rudis; hence picea has priority (Bolton, 1995b: 72).]
 * Status as species: Bolton, 1995b: 72; Umphrey, 1996: 558 (in key); Mackay & Mackay, 2002: 76; Coovert, 2005: 48; Ellison, et al. 2012: 230.
 * punctithorax. Aphaenogaster texana subsp. punctithorax Cole, 1938a: 239, fig. 2 (w.) U.S.A.
 * Unidentifiable taxon: Creighton, 1950a: 151.
 * Junior synonym of picea: Smith, M.R. 1951a: 796.
 * Unidentifiable taxon; incertae sedis in Aphaenogaster: Smith, D.R. 1979: 1364.
 * Junior synonym of picea: Smith, 1951c: 796; Mackay & Mackay, 2017: 359.