Aphaenogaster schmitzi

Little is known concerning this species. Menozzi (1933) communicated that a single worker was collected under a stone. Forel (1910) noted that the syntypes were collected in side a house (Salata et al., 2021).

Identification
Salata et al. (2021) - Aphaenogaster schmitzi together with Aphaenogaster festae, Aphaenogaster syriaca and Aphaenogaster transcaucasica form a species complex characterized by yellow to rusty-yellow color of head and antennae, stout body and legs and distinct sculpturing on the entire surface of the head. 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 area between frontal carinae, A. syriaca has also slightly longer and directed slightly more upward propodeal spines; A. festae differs also in slightly more elongated head with HL/HW 1.347 (1.313–1.390) vs. 1.279 (1.248–1.309) in A. schmitzi. Aphaenogaster transcaucasica is the most similar species to Aphaenogaster schmitzi but differs in slightly less elongate and less distinctly sculptured head, stouter distal antennal segments, and longer scape SL/HW: 1.512 vs. 1.391 (1.326–1.467) in A. schmitzi. Because we examined in detail only one specimen of A. transcaucasica its separateness requires confirmation supported by studies on a larger number of specimens. The differences observed between A. schmitzi and A. transcaucasica are quite subtle and perhaps A. transcaucasica is only a northern geographical form of the same taxon, widely distributed in Transcaucasia and the Middle East (see also comments for Aphaenogaster georgica).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Israel, Jordan.

Nomenclature

 * . Aphaenogaster schmitzi Forel, 1910a: 10 (w.) ISRAEL.
 * Combination in Aphaenogaster (Attomyrma): Emery, 1921f: 60.
 * Subspecies of syriaca: Emery, 1921f: 60; Menozzi, 1933b: 51; Bolton, 1995b: 72; Vonshak, et al. 2009: 41.
 * Status as species: Salata et al., 2021: 326.
 * syria. Aphaenogaster schmitzi var. syria Forel, 1910a: 12 (w.) SYRIA.
 * Junior synonym of syriaca: Emery, 1921f: 60.
 * Junior synonym of schmitzi: Salata et al., 2021: 326.

Type Material

 * 15 syntype workers: A. Schmitzi | type Forel | Jerusalem | (Schmitz) | in house || Cotypus || schmitzi (MHNG), personally investigated; syntype worker: A. schmizti | type Forel | Jerusalem | (Schmitz) | [Illegible data] || Syntype ||ex coll. | Donisthorpe | B.M. 1934.4. || BMNH(E) | 1013870 || ANTWEB | CASENT | 0900458 (BMNH), personally investigated (Salata et al., 2021).

Taxonomic Notes
Aphaenogaster schmitzi syria was separated by Forel (1910) from A. schmitzi based on more matt head, more distinct reticulation of head and yellowish-brown body colouration. Study of the type specimen revealed that the mentioned characters were within the range of variability seen in A. schmitzi and thus we consider A. schmitzi syria to be a junior synonym (Salata et al., 2021).