Aphaenogaster transcaucasica

Nothing is known concerning the biology of this species (Salata et al., 2021).

Identification
Aphaenogaster transcaucasica together with Aphaenogaster festae, Aphaenogaster syriaca and Aphaenogaster schmitzi form a species complex characterized by yellow to rusty-yellow color of head and antennae, stout body and legs and head distinctly sculptured on whole surface. Aphaenogaster festae and A. syriaca differ in mesonotum placed distinctly higher than posterior part of pronotum, more distinct head sculpture with rugae present also in the area between frontal carinae, A. festae differs also in slightly more elongate head with HL/HW above 1.3 (1.28 in A. transcaucasica). Aphaenogaster schmitzi is the most similar to A. transcaucasica, especially by mesonotum not protruded or protruded only slightly above posterior part of pronotum, but differs in slightly more elongated and more distinctly sculptured head, slimmer distal antennal segments and shorter scape SL/HW: 1.39 (1.326–1.467) vs. 1.512 in A. transcaucasica. Because we examined only one specimen of A. transcaucasica, its distinctness requires confirmation by studies on a larger number of specimens. The differences observed between this species and A. schmitzi are quite subtle and perhaps A. transcaucasica is only a northern geographical form of A. schmitzi.

Distribution
Azerbaijan. Recorded also from Shiraki in Georgia (Jijilashvili, 1964a, b, 1966) but this record needs confirmation due to the unclear status of Aphaenogaster georgica described from Georgia and Azerbaijan. The author of the description of A. georgica noted that this species is probably only a subspecies of Aphaenogaster transcaucasica. Additionally, the description lacks key characters that would distinguish these two taxa (Arnoldi 1968). The depository of the type of A. georgica is unknown and we treat this taxon as nomen dubium. (Salata et al., 2021)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Azerbaijan, Georgia.

Castes
Queen unknown.

Nomenclature

 * . Aphaenogaster (Aphaenogaster) splendida var. transcaucasica Karavaiev, 1926b: 97 (w.q.) AZERBAIJAN.
 * Subspecies of splendida: Arnol'di, 1948: 211 (in list); Arnol'di, 1976b: 1025 (in key); Bolton, 1995b: 73; Gratiashvili & Barjadze, 2008: 137.
 * Status as species: Salata et al., 2021: 335.

Type Material

 * Syntype worker: Gouv. Baku |Kaukasus ||Aphaenogaster splendida | var. transcaucasica Karav. | (syntypus) (MNHW-DBET), personally investigated (Salata et al., 2021)
 * Syntype worker: Göglar | Caucase || Typus || Aphaenogaster | splendida sbsp. | caucasica Kar. | Typus || Sammlung | Dr. F. Santschi | Kairouan || ANTWEB | CASENT | 0913131 (NHMB) (Salata et al., 2021).
 * Syntype worker: Acmaнлы | Ленкоран |Казн. и Шелк. | 4915 Coll. | Karavaiev ||Syntypus Aphaenogas | ter splendida v. | transcaucasica Kar. || Aphaenogatser | (Attomyrma) | splendida Rog. | v. transcaucasica | Karavaiev typ. || ANTWEB | CASENT | 0916920 (SIZK) (Salata et al., 2021).