Aphaenogaster tokarainsulana

Foraging workers turn their gasters downwards. This species is found from coastal to inland regions in woodland or its margins. It nests in the soil, under stones or in rotting wood.

Identification
Total length of workers around 3 - 5.5 mm. Head and mesosoma dark reddish brown; mandibles, petiole, postpetiole and legs lighter; gaster often darker; scapes gradually lightening in color toward their apices; funiculi light reddish brown. Scapes, mesosoma and legs relatively rather short compared to other Japanese Aphaenogaster species. Head covered with striae and punctures; longitudinal striae on frontal area not reaching occipital carina; posterior portion of head dull, with irregular striation and punctures. Pronotal humeri angulate. Mesonotum distinctly raised, often higher than pronotum, covered with striae and punctures. Mesopleura dull, covered with minute, dense punctures and parallel striae. (Japanese Ant Image Database)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China, Japan.

Biology
Chromosome number 2n=34.

Nomenclature

 *  tokarainsulana. Aphaenogaster tokarainsulana Watanabe & Yamane, 1999: 729, fig. 12 (w.q.m.) JAPAN.