Aphaenogaster tipuna

Identification
Dong et al. (2020) - Workers of Aphaenogaster lepida and Aphaenogaster tipuna are morphologically similar. The most significant difference is in head coloration, the head of A. tipuna workers being entirely reddish (Fig. 5A) while it is black in A. lepida (Figs. 1, 2). However, while the colour differences are distinct in live and freshly collected material, discoloration can occur in both pinned specimens and alcohol-fixed material, especially in long-term preserved specimens. Unfortinately, this reduces the usefulness of this character in separating these taxa.

In contrast to workers, males are easily separated by differences in the shape of the mesonotum and propodeum. The mesonotum of A. lepida is smaller and lower (Figs. 3A, 3B) compared to that of A. tipuna, where it is larger and overhangs the posterior region of the head (Fig. 3C) (Wheeler, 1929). The propodeum in A. lepida is higher and essentially flat (Figs. 3A, 3B) while in A. tipuna it is lower and distinctly angular anteriorly (Fig. 3C).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Taiwan. Palaearctic Region: Japan.


 * Note that Korean records of A. tipuna are misidentifications of Aphaenogaster lepida (Dong et al., 2020).

Nomenclature

 * . Aphaenogaster rothneyi r. tipuna Forel, 1913f: 195 (w.m.) TAIWAN.
 * Hung, Imai & Kubota, 1972: 1024 (k.).
 * Combination in Aphaenogaster (Attomyrma): Emery, 1921f: 59.
 * Subspecies of rothneyi: Emery, 1921f: 59; Wheeler, W.M. 1929g: 59; Chapman & Capco, 1951: 132.
 * Status as species: Santschi, 1937h: 368; Hung, Imai & Kubota, 1972: 1024; Ogata, 1991b: 86; Morisita, et al. 1992: 18; Bolton, 1995b: 73; Park & Kim, 2000: 108; Imai, et al. 2003: 179; Lin & Wu, 2003: 64; Terayama, 2009: 164.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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 * Choi B.M. 1996. Distribution of ants (Formicidae) in Korea (16): Ant fauna from Chollabukdo. Korean Journal of Soil Zoology 1(1): 5-23.
 * Choi B.M., K. Ogata, and M. Terayama. 1993. Comparative studies of ant faunas of Korea and Japan. 1. Faunal comparison  among islands of Southern Korean and northern Kyushu, Japan. Bull. Biogeogr. Soc. Japan 48(1): 37-49.
 * Choi B.M., Kim, C.H., Bang, J.R. 1993. Studies on the distribution of ants (Formicidae) in Korea (13). A checklist of ants from each province (Do), with taxonomic notes. Cheongju Sabom Taehakkyo Nonmunjip (Journal of Cheongju National University of Education) 30: 331-380.
 * Choi B.M., and J. R. Bang. Studies on the distribution of ants (Formicidae) in Korea (12): the analysis of ant communities in 23 islands. Journal of Cheongju National University of Education 30:317-330.
 * Forel A. 1913. H. Sauter's Formosa-Ausbeute: Formicidae II. Arch. Naturgesch. (A)79(6): 183-202
 * Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
 * Ha S.J, S.J. Park, and B.J. Kim. 2002. Comparative ant faunas between Seonyudo and seven other islands of West Sea in Korea. Korean Journal of Entomology 32(2): 75-79.
 * Hu C.-H. 2006. Indigenized conservation and biodiversity maintenance on Orchid Island. PhD Thesis, graduate school of the University of Minnesota. 150 pages.
 * Hung A. C. F., H. T. Imai, and M. Kubota. 1972. The chromosomes of nine ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Taiwan, Republic of China. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 6 65: 1023-1025.
 * Kim B.J. 1996. Synonymic list and distribution of Formicidae (Hymenoptera) in Korea. Entomological Research Bulletin Supplement 169-196.
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 * Park, Seong, Joon and Byung, and Kim, Jin. 2002. Faunal Comparison of Ants among Cheongsando and Other Islands of South Sea in Korea. Korean Jornal of Entomology. 32(1):7-12.
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 * Terayama M., S. Kubota, and K. Eguchi. 2014. Encyclopedia of Japanese ants. Asakura Shoten: Tokyo, 278 pp.
 * Terayama M., and B. M. Choi. 1991. Four newly recorded species of Formicidae (Insecta, Hymenoptera) from Korea. Edaphologia 45: 63-64.
 * Terayama Mamoru. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta, Hymenoptera). The Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University 17: 81-266.
 * Terayama, M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta; Hymenoptera). The Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University 17: 81-266.
 * Terayama. M. and Inoue. N. 1988. Ants collected by the members of the Soil Zoological Expedition to Taiwan. ARI Reports of the Myrmecologists Society (Japan) 18: 25-28
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