Aphaenogaster inermita

Hunting singly during daytime and nesting under stones in arid coastal areas on Malta (Schembri & Collingwood 1981; Boer, 2013).

Identification
A member of the A. testaceopilosa group. By the absence of propodeal spines or teeth, the workers cannot be confused with other species. Moreover, the setae are fine instead of bristle-like, as in most species. Gynes and males unknown. (Boer 2013)


 * Key to European Aphaenogaster workers

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Italy, Malta.

Nomenclature

 * inermis. Aphaenogaster semipolita var. inermis Santschi, 1933c: 390 (w.) ITALY. [First available use of Aphaenogaster testaceopilosa subsp. semipolita var. inermis Emery, 1908c: 320; unavailable name.] Raised to species: Schembri & Collingwood, 1981: 423. [Junior primary homonym of inermis Forel, above.] Replacement name: inermita Bolton, below.
 *  inermita. Aphaenogaster inermita Bolton, 1995b: 70. Replacement name for inermis Santschi, 1933c: 390. [Junior primary homonym of inermis Forel, 1899c: 60.]

Worker
Boer (2013) - Lateral sides of mesosoma with weak longitudinal rugulae, on the propodeal dorsum absent or rugulose. Head longitudinally rugulose with some cross-connections. Terminal side of propodeum, opposite of petiole rugulose and punctate. Petiolar nodes punctate. Dorsal side of postpetiole with longitudinal costulae. Microstriae on dorsal side of gaster dense, less pronounced than in other species. Dorsal side of postpetiole matt. Pronotum matt glossy. Dorsal side of gaster matt satin. Terminal side of propodeum, opposite of the petiole matt glossy. Antennal club 4-segmented. Propodeal spines absent. Terminal side of propodeum oblong, without any spine, generally slightly dentate. All hairs not bristle-like as in most species. The fine hairs of the underside of the head and anterior side of the first coxae have the same shape as those of the mesosoma.

Measurements (n = 10). CI 78–81 (80); CL 1.22–1.41 (1.28) mm; CW 0.95–1.15 (1.02) mm; PHI 25–29 (27); PI 66–86 (77); PPPI 47–51 (50); PWI 20–24 (22); RPH 110–141 (126); SI 139–145 (142); SL 1.36–1.59 (1.44) mm.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * 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.
 * Emery C. 1916. Fauna entomologica italiana. I. Hymenoptera.-Formicidae. Bullettino della Società Entomologica Italiana 47: 79-275.
 * Gomez K. 2017. Two species of exotic ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) new to Malta. Boletin de la Sociedad Entomologica Aragonesa (S.E.A.) 61: 233-235.
 * Menozzi C. 1921. Formiche dei dintorni di Sambiase di Calabria. Bollettino del Laboratorio di Zoologia Generale e Agraria della Reale Scuola Superiore d'Agricoltura. Portici. 15: 24-32.