Aphaenogaster ashmeadi

This species nests in sandy soil, with the nest entrance normally camouflaged or located under objects such as stones or pieces of wood.

Identification
The scape of the worker and female is widened at the base, but the widened region is very short, about 1/6 of the total length of the scape. The clypeus has a number of poorly defined carinae, and entire dorsum of the head is covered with a granular-rugose sculpturing. The entire mesosoma is sculptured, mostly with punctures, and is only weakly shining. The propodeal spines are relatively short, their length is less than that of the posterior face of the propodeum.

Aphaenogaster ashmeadi is similar to Aphaenogaster treatae, but has a smaller lobe at the base of the scape. The lobe is one-fifth the length of the scape (DeMarco, 2015).

Identification Keys including this Taxon
Key to US Aphaenogaster species

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



Biology
Found in sand pine, oak scrub, live oak and laurel oak habitats. It can tolerate disturbed conditions.

Nomenclature

 *  ashmeadi. Stenamma (Aphaenogaster) treatae var. ashmeadi Emery, 1895c: 302 (w.) U.S.A. Combination in Aphaenogaster: Wheeler, W.M. 1913c: 114; in Aphaenogaster (Attomyrma): Emery, 1921f: 60. Raised to species and senior synonym of harnedi: Creighton, 1950a: 142.
 * harnedi. Aphaenogaster treatae subsp. harnedi Wheeler, W.M. 1919b: 50 (w.) U.S.A. Junior synonym of ashmeadi: Creighton, 1950a: 142.