Aphaenogaster picea

A common ant in the eastern United States, it can be found across a wide range of forest habitats. Aphaenogaster picea is closely related to Aphaenogaster rudis, with which is shares many morphological and biological characteristics. It will preferentially nest in downed wood and old stumps but is rather opportunistic and flexible in that it will nest under bark, under objects on the ground, in soil, or in any cavity that provides a suitable range of temperature and protection. Their omnivorous foragers are important dispersers of myrmecochorous seeds.

Identification
Aphaenogaster picea is diagnosed by the last four antennal segments being lighter in color than the rest of the antenna, by its piceous color and northern ranges in North America (DeMarco, 2015).

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



Biology
This species is closely related to Aphaenogaster rudis. An account of the biology of these species (see the biology section of the A. rudis species page) was summarized by Lubertazzi (2012).

Paluh et al (2015) found this ant was a preferred prey of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus).

Nomenclature

 *  picea. Stenamma (Aphaenogaster) fulvum var. piceum Wheeler, W.M. 1908f: 621 (w.q.m.) U.S.A.
 * [First available use of Stenamma (Aphaenogaster) fulvum subsp. aquia var. piceum Emery, 1895c: 305 (w.q.m.) U.S.A; unavailable (infrasubspecific) name.]
 * Combination in Aphaenogaster (Attomyrma): Emery, 1921f: 57.
 * Subspecies of fulva: Buren, 1944a: 284.
 * Subspecies of rudis: Enzmann, J. 1947b: 150 (in key); Creighton, 1950a: 148; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1362.
 * Senior synonym of punctithorax: Smith, 1951c: 796; Mackay & Mackay, 2017: 359.
 * [Note: picea was made available earlier than rudis; hence picea has priority (Bolton, 1995b: 72).]
 * Status as species: Bolton, 1995b: 72; Umphrey, 1996: 558 (in key); Mackay & Mackay, 2002: 76; Coovert, 2005: 48; Ellison, et al. 2012: 230.
 * punctithorax. Aphaenogaster texana subsp. punctithorax Cole, 1938a: 239, fig. 2 (w.) U.S.A.
 * Unidentifiable taxon: Creighton, 1950a: 151.
 * Junior synonym of picea: Smith, M.R. 1951a: 796.
 * Unidentifiable taxon; incertae sedis in Aphaenogaster: Smith, D.R. 1979: 1364.
 * Junior synonym of picea: Smith, 1951c: 796; Mackay & Mackay, 2017: 359.