Aphaenogaster swammerdami

Aphaenogaster swammerdami is a common and abundant species known to have an omnivorous diet consisting of arthropods and seeds (Boehing-Gaese et al., 1996, 1999; Fisher, 2003). Their underground nests can be large and have been found to be shared with the snakes Madagascarophis colubrinus (Schlegel, 1837) and Leioheterodon modestus (Günther, 1863); it is an important secondary seed disperser of Commiphora guillaumini (Burseraceae) (Böhning-Gaese et al. 1999).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Biology
The type specimens of Tetramorium tsingy, an ant only known from a few individuals, were collected from a nest of A. swammerdami.

Jono et al. (2019) - Colonies of A. swammerdami contain from 100–1500 workers. They inhabit large, underground nests that have a single large entrance hole and a conspicuous mound. This ant occurs sympatrically with the blindsnake Madatyphlops decorsei, and is believed to prey on A. swammerdami brood. An examination of the stomach contents of two museum specimen of M. decorsei were found to exclusively contain Aphaenogaster larvae. Also, blindsnakes generally specialize in feeding on termites and ant brood taken from inside their nests. The lamprophiid snake, Madagascarophis colubrinus, also co-occurs with A. swammerdami and is known to live inside their nests. Local people in Madagascar refer to this snake as ‘Ant’s Mother’ due to its propensity to live in ant nests. M. colubrinus preys on vertebrates and has been observed feeding on a blindsnakee. When experimentally presented at the colony entrance, the snake M. decorsei prompted workers to bite the snake and within a few minutes evacuate the brood from their nest. In 10 of 11 trails the colony recovered normal activity 1 day after the M. decorsei trials. M. colubrinus presented at the nest entrance was unmolested by the ants. It appears A. swammerdami have evolved two defenses against blind snakes. They have developed a mutualism with M. colubrinus that provides protection from brood raiding blindsnakes and they evacuate the brood when M. decorsei poses an imminent threat.

Castes
Additional images can be found on the Aphaenogaster swammerdami'' category page.

Nomenclature

 *  swammerdami. Aphaenogaster (Ischnomyrmex) swammerdami Forel, 1886c: cvi (w.) MADAGASCAR. Forel, 1891b: 168 (q.m.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1977: 584 (l.). Combination in Stenamma (Ischnomyrmex): Forel, 1907e: 14; in Aphaenogaster (Deromyrma): Forel, 1913b: 350. Current subspecies: nominal plus clara, curta, spinipes.