Aphaenogaster subterraneoides

This species has been found in steppe grasslands in Bulgaria (Borowiec et al., 2019).

Identification
A member of the Aphaenogaster pallida-group (Borowiec et al., 2019).

Aphaenogaster subterraneoides and Aphaenogaster pallida are very similar and differ only in the structure of propodeum. In A. pallida the propodeum is rounded, lacking propodeal spines, while in A. subterraneoides minute propodeal spines are present (Borowiec et al., 2019).

Distribution
This is the most widespread species of the A. pallida species group. It has been recorded from Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, North Macedonia, Russia (Caucasus), Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine. It is possible that records of Aphaenogaster pallida from Bulgaria (Vasilev 1984) are misidentified specimens of Aphaenogaster subterraneoides (Borowiec et al., 2019).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Israel, Montenegro, Russian Federation, Ukraine.

Nomenclature

 *  subterraneoides. Aphaenogaster pallida var. subterraneoides Emery, 1881b: 534 (w.) GREECE. Santschi, 1939c: 5 (q.). Combination in Aphaenogaster (Attomyrma): Emery, 1921f: 59. Subspecies of striola: Forel, 1890a: lxxi; of gibbosa: Karavaiev, 1912a: 5; of pallida: Emery, 1915a: 258; Finzi, 1930d: 312. Raised to species: Bondroit, 1918: 159. Junior synonym of pallida: Bernard, 1967: 134. Revived from synonymy and raised to species: Arnol'di, 1976b: 1023. Senior synonym of cypriotes: Emery, 1915a: 258. Current subspecies: nominal plus armeniaca.
 * cypriotes. Aphaenogaster pallida subsp. cypriotes Emery, 1908c: 329 (w.) CYPRUS. Junior synonym of subterraneoides: Emery, 1915a: 258.