Aphaenogaster occidentalis

This species is known to be a pest in Washington homes (DeMarco, 2015).

Identification
Aphaenogaster occidentalis has relatively short spines and scapes (DeMarco, 2015).

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

Castes

 * Worker

Nomenclature

 *  occidentalis. Stenamma (Aphaenogaster) subterraneum subsp. occidentale Emery, 1895c: 301 (w.) U.S.A.
 * Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1953b: 61 (l.).
 * Combination in Aphaenogaster (Attomyrma): Emery, 1921f: 60.
 * Subspecies of subterranea: Santschi, 1911d: 6; Wheeler, W.M. 1917a: 515; Emery, 1921f: 60; Menozzi, 1932b: 310; Cole, 1942: 364; Creighton, 1950a: 149; Smith, M.R. 1951a: 797; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1362.
 * Status as species: Hunt & Snelling, 1975: 21; Allred, 1982: 453; Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1986g: 37; Bolton, 1995b: 71.
 * Senior synonym of borealis: Creighton, 1950a: 150.
 * Senior synonym of valida: Shattuck & Cover, 2016: 13.
 * Material of the unavailable name manni referred here by Creighton, 1950a: 150.
 * borealis. Aphaenogaster subterranea subsp. borealis Wheeler, W.M. 1915b: 412 (w.) CANADA.
 * Combination in Aphaenogaster (Attomyrma): Emery, 1921f: 60.
 * Subspecies of subterranea: Wheeler, W.M. 1917a: 516; Emery, 1921f: 60; Smith, M.R. 1951a: 797.
 * Junior synonym of occidentalis: Creighton, 1950a: 150; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1362.
 * valida. Aphaenogaster subterranea subsp. valida Wheeler, W.M. 1915b: 411 (w.q.m.) U.S.A.
 * Combination in Aphaenogaster (Attomyrma): Emery, 1921f: 60.
 * Subspecies of subterranea: Wheeler, W.M. 1917a: 516; Emery, 1921f: 60; Creighton, 1950a: 150; Smith, M.R. 1951a: 797; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1362; Bolton, 1995b: 74; Mackay & Mackay, 2002: 77.
 * Junior synonym of subterranea: Shattuck & Cover, 2016: 13.