Aphaenogaster subterranea

This species is common and widespread in central and southern Italy. It is a ground-nesting ant chiefly inhabiting deciduous forests (Rigato & Toni, 2011). Bracko et al. (2018) noted this ant, described from France, has been recorded from most of the western Palearctic Region and is likely a cryptic species complex. Pashaei Rad et al. (2018) found this species in Iran on soil in a Caspian moist littoral area.

Identification
A member of the Aphaenogaster subterranea-group.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Balearic Islands, Belgium, Bulgaria, Channel Islands, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iberian Peninsula, Iran, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, Poland, Republic of Macedonia, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Nomenclature

 *  subterranea. Formica subterranea Latreille, 1798: 49 (w.q.m.) FRANCE. Latreille, 1802a: 220 (q.m.); Hauschteck, 1962: 219 (k.). Combination in Manica: Jurine, 1807: 279; in Atta: Mayr, 1855: 460; in Myrmica: Nylander, 1856b: 85; in Aphaenogaster: Roger, 1863b: 29; in Stenamma (Aphaenogaster): Emery, 1895c: 301; in Aphaenogaster (Attomyrma): Emery, 1915d: 70. See also: Emery, 1908c: 326; Stitz, 1939: 113; Bernard, 1967: 134; Kutter, 1977c: 80; Atanassov & Dlussky, 1992: 111.

Type Material

 * Nine workers from the same nest, designated as "paraneotypes", are deposited at MNHN, from which a new neotype could easily be designated in case of loss or destruction of the neotype. Ten workers of this same nest have also been deposited at the Senckenberg Museum für Naturkunde of Görlitz, Germany.
 * Nine workers from the same nest, designated as "paraneotypes", are deposited at MNHN, from which a new neotype could easily be designated in case of loss or destruction of the neotype. Ten workers of this same nest have also been deposited at the Senckenberg Museum für Naturkunde of Görlitz, Germany.