Aphaenogaster kervillei

Nothing is known regarding the biology of this species.

Identification
Salata et al. (2021) - A very distinct species. Its elongated head with longitudinal sculpture limited to anterior half of the head groups this species with Aphaenogaster hamaensis and Aphaenogaster vohraliki. Both relatives differ in more distinctly converging posterad head with almost straight sides behind eyes, while in A. kervillei head sides behind eyes are weakly rounded posterad. Aphaenogaster vohraliki differs also by almost twice longer propodeal spines, and A. hamaensis differs in extremely short, resembling reduced teeth, propodeal spines. Also, due to elongated head and slim legs, A. splendida appears similar to A. kervillei but it differs in oval and more distinctly sculptured head, with longitudinal and reticulate sculpture present also on its posterior half. Other yellow colored species of the A. splendida species-group differ in stouter body, hind femora distinctly swollen medially, and more distinctly sculptured head strongly narrowing toward base and apex, with longitudinal and reticulate sculpture also in its posterior half. Slim and elongated body of Aphaenogaster peloponnesiaca reminds body proportions characteristic to A. kervillei, but A. peloponnesiaca differs in regularly oval head evenly converging anterad and posterad.

Distribution
Israel and Syria. Its presence in Lebanon and Turkey is possible but requires confirmation (Salata et al., 2021).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey.

Castes
Queen unknown.

Nomenclature

 * . Aphaenogaster kervillei Forel, 1910a: 12 (w.) LEBANON, SYRIA.
 * Combination in Aphaenogaster (Attomyrma): Emery, 1921f: 58.
 * Status as species: Emery, 1921f: 58; Aktaç, 1977: 120; Bolton, 1995b: 70; Vonshak, et al. 2009: 41; Kiran & Karaman, 2012: 16; Borowiec, L. 2014: 13.

Type Material

 * Lectotype (designated by Salata et al., 2021: 312): A. kervillei | Type Forel | Berzé Antiliban | ss pierr. Syrie | (Kerville) || Sp. A. Kervillei | Forel || coll. Forel || Typus || ANTWEB | CASENT0907687 (MHNG), examined (Salata et al., 2021).
 * 9 paralectotypes: A. kervillei | Type For | Berzé Antiliban | Gadeau de Kerville || kervillei || Forel || coll. | A. Forel || Cotypus (MHNG), examined (Salata et al., 2021).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
 * Forel A. 1910. Glanures myrmécologiques. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 54: 6-32.
 * Vonshak M., and A. Ionescu-Hirsch. 2009. A checklist of the ants of Israel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Israel Journal of Entomology 39: 33-55.