Wasmannia affinis

Wasmannia iheringi, Wasmannia lutzi, Wasmannia affinis and Wasmannia scrobifera occur mostly with Wasmannia auropunctata and Wasmannia rochai in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil and/or the Amazon Forest in Brazil (Cuezzo et al. 2015, Longino and Fernández 2007).

Identification
Wasmannia affinis and Wasmannia lutzi are two related species from southeastern Brazil. They share a unique development of the antennal scrobe. The scrobe is very broad, forming a flat surface that extends from the frontal carinae to the side of the head. The side of the head is somewhat angular posterior to the eye. The preocular carina is faint and does not form the ventral border of the scrobe. In contrast, all other species of Wasmannia have a more narrow scrobe that does not reach the side of the head in full face view. The ventral margin of the scrobe is limited by the preocular carina or, in cases where the carina is faint or absent, where it would be if it extended posterior to the eye. The side of the head behind the eye is rounded. The expanded scrobe is also present in the queen of lutzi, resulting in a strongly trapezoidal head shape, such that the head is broader behind the eyes than across them. Wasmannia affinis differs from lutzi in (1) the propodeal spines are shorter, and (2) in dorsal view, the postpetiole is elliptical with rounded sides, and the widest point is at or behind the midlength. (Longino & Fernández 2007)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil.

Biology
Rosumek (2017) assessed trophic resource use and period of activity within the ant community in a southern Brazil Atlantic forest. He found "Wasmannia affinis had a smaller incidence in the community, but used a broader range of resources. Feces were not particularly important, and having more records on termites, seeds and melezitose would make it unique among species of this work, although it was not possible to statistically confirm this pattern."

Bieber et al. (2013) found W. affinis was attracted to fallen fruits of Psychotria suterella (Rubiaceae).

Nomenclature

 *  affinis. Wasmannia affinis Santschi, 1929d: 300, figs. 25, 26 (w.) BRAZIL. See also: Longino & Fernández, 2007: 276.