Aphaenogaster gemella

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
A member of the A. testaceopilosa group. Largest species of the subgenus. Workers and gynes are very similar to Aphaenogaster senilis. Only A. senilis and A. gemella have a 5-segmented antennal club. Different from A. senilis by the lack of distinct propodeal spines. Males are distinctly different from the other species by their large occelli and 6–8-segmented (indistinct) antennal club. (Boer 2013)


 * Key to European Aphaenogaster workers

Distribution
Boer (2013) - Spain: Baleares and Cadiz. Apparently extinct on the Baleares, as the species has not been observed since 1983 (pers. comm. Espadaler).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Algeria, Balearic Islands.

Nomenclature

 *  gemella. Atta gemella Roger, 1862b: 260 (w.m.) SPAIN. Santschi, 1929e: 140 (q.). Combination in Aphaenogaster: Roger, 1863b: 29. Subspecies of testaceopilosa: Emery & Forel, 1879: 463; Menozzi, 1926b: 181; Santschi, 1929e: 140. Revived status as species: Santschi, 1933c: 401; Cagniant, 1964: 86; Collingwood & Yarrow, 1969: 61. Current subspecies: nominal plus marocana.

Worker
Boer (2013) - Lateral sides of propodeum with some longitudinal rugulae, which are weak or absent on pronotum and metanotum. Head in full-face view with longitudinal rugulae, here and there with some cross-connections. Punctation on head and mesosoma. Petioles and legs distinctly microreticulated. Scape coarsely rugulose. Spurs of hind tibia dentate. Terminal side of propodeum, beneath the propodeal spines punctate and some weak transverse rugulae. Postpetiole with fine longitudinal microstriae. Dorsal side of base of gaster with transverse microstriae. Whole head, pronotum, mesosoma, petioles and dorsal side of first gastral tergite matt, sometimes with some satin shine on dorsal side of postpetiole. Lateral sides of gaster matt to glossy. Antennal club 5-segmented. Lateral shape of petiolar node with rounded top. Petiole slightly higher than postpetiole.

Measurements (n = 9). CI 74–78 (76); CL 1.63–1.77 (1.70) mm; CW 1.25–1.36 (1.31) mm; PHI 31–34 (32); PI 78–88 (84); PPPI: 44–55 (47); PWI 19–26 (22); RPH 140–167 (154); SI 132–144 (137); SI/CI 174–187 (181); SL 1.75–1.84 (1.80) mm.

Male
Boer (2013) - Rugulae absent. Very weak, finely rugulose on the dorsal sides of the petioles. Punctation on head (including clypeus), pronotum, mesoscutum (partly), scutellum and lateral sides of mesosoma. Petioles nearly smooth. Dorsum of first gastral tergite with microreticulation, microstriae absent. Head, pronotum, scutellum and mesoscutum mostly matt. Lateral sides of mesosoma, part of mesoscutum and propodeum glossy. Dorsum of gaster and petioles wax glossy. Antennal club 8-segmented (indistinct club). Pubescence of hind tibia subdecumbent to suberect, their length longer than the tibial diameter. Wings nearly clear, with a yellowish tint. Scutellum slightly erected above mesoscutum, not bent over metanotum. Head without frontal midline. Mandibles with one big apical tooth and 4 sharply pointed denticles. Posterior side of propodeal dorsum longitudinally emarginate. Petiole low. Terminal corner of propodeum rounded.

Measurements (n = 1). CI 108; CL 1.00 mm; CW 1.08 mm; EYI 50; OCI 47; SL/CL 48; SL 0.48 mm.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bernard F. 1970. Les fourmis de la forêt de Mâmora (Maroc). Revue d'Écologie et de Biologie du Sol 6:n483-513.
 * Boer P. 2013. Revision of the European ants of the Aphaenogaster testaceopilosa-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 156: 57-93.
 * Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
 * Cagniant, H. "Contribution á la connaissance des fourmis marocaines. Aphaenogaster gemella au Maroc: Nouvelle description d´Aphaenogaster gemella ssp. Marocana Forel (n. status) de la région de Tanger. Problemes biogéographiques soulevés par l'espèce A. gemella (Roger)." Bulletin de la Société d'Histoire Naturelle de Toulouse 125 (1989): 47-54.
 * Cagniant, H. "Étude de quelques fourmis marocaines. Statistique provisoire des Formicidae du Maroc." Bulletin de la Société d' Histoire naturelle de l' Afrique du Nord 53 (1964): 83-118.
 * Santschi, F. "Fourmis du Maroc, d'Algérie et de Tunisie." Bulletin et Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique (Bruxelles) 69 (1929): 138-165.
 * Santschi, F. "Inventa entomologica itineris Hispanici et Maroccani, quod a. 1926 fecerunt Harald et Håkan Lindberg. Fourmis du Bassin Méditerranéen occidental et du Maroc récoltées par MM. Lindberg." Societas Scientiarum Fennica (Helsingfors) 3 (14) (1931): 1-13.
 * Saunders, E. "Aculeate Hymenoptera collected by J. J. Walker, at Gibraltar and in North Africa. (Part I - Heterogyna)." Entomologists' Monthly Magazine XXVI (1890): 201-206 y 289-291.
 * Taheri A., J. Reyes-Lopez, and N. Bennas. 2014. Contribution a l'etude de la fauna myrmecologique du parc national de Talassemtane (nord du Maroc): biodiversite, biogeographie et especes indicatrices. Boletín de la Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa (S.E.A.), 54: 225236.
 * de Haro, Andrés, and C. A. Collingwood. "Prospección mirmecológica por el litoral mediterráneo de Marruecos (Cabo Negro, Martil, Oued Lau) y su comparación con la zona meridional ibérica." Orsis 9 (1994): 97-104.
 * de Haro, Andrés, and C. A. Collingwood. "Prospección mirmecológica por la península Tingitana al norte del Rif (Marruecos)." Orsis (Organismes i Sistemes) 12 (1997): 93-99.