Aphaenogaster punctaticeps

This ant nests in kangaroo rat mounds (Cover, pers. commun.) or in prairie dog towns (Fagerlund, pers. comun.). It apparently steals seeds from the rodents. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

Identification
The head of this species is elongate (head width /head length 0.71), and nearly completely covered with punctures. Most of the mesosoma has similar sculpture. The propodeal spines are small. This species is similar to Aphaenogaster texana but differs in that the posterior border of the head is moderately pointed (rounded in A. texana) and the dorsum of the head is primarily punctate (rugose with punctures in the intrarugal spaces in A. texana). (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

Aphaenogaster punctaticeps is similar to A. texana, but with the posterior border of head moderately pointed as opposed to rounded (DeMarco, 2015).

Distribution
United States: Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Mexico.

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

Habitat
Creosotebush scrub.

Nomenclature

 *  punctaticeps. Aphaenogaster punctaticeps Mackay, W.P., 1989: 47, figs. 1, 4, 6, 7 (w.) U.S.A. See also: Umphrey, 1996: 557 (key).