Aphaenogaster minutula

Nests in relatively open sites in forests and at forest edges. Nests are excavated in the soil, with a distinctive pile of wood chips around each entrance.

Identification
Total length of workers 3.5-5 mm. Body yellowish brown, with head (excepting mandibles) and mesosoma slightly darker. Antennal club pale in color. This species is distinguished from its close relatives (Aphaenogaster concolor, Aphaenogaster luteipes and Aphaenogaster kumejimana) by the smaller body size, 4-segmented maxillary palp (5-segmented in the other species), and the chromosome number 2n=28. (Japanese Ant Image Database)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Japan.

Nomenclature

 *  minutula. Aphaenogaster minutula Watanabe & Yamane, 1999: 732, figs. 2, 6, 14 (w.q.) JAPAN.