Aphaenogaster miamiana

Identification
Aphaenogaster miamiana is within the Aphaenogaster rudis clade but can be distinguished by the more rugose sculpturing on the head and mesosoma, and by a missing intron in the gene CAD (DeMarco and Cognato, in prep.). (DeMarco, 2015)

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

Nomenclature

 *  miamiana. Aphaenogaster (Attomyrma) texana var. miamiana Wheeler, W.M. 1932a: 5 (w.q.m.) U.S.A.
 * Subspecies of texana: Smith, M.R. 1951a: 798.
 * Status as species: Creighton, 1950a: 145; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1361; Bolton, 1995b: 71; Umphrey, 1996: 558 (in key).
 * Senior synonym of azteca: Mackay & Mackay, 2017: 310.
 * azteca. Aphaenogaster fulva var. azteca Enzmann, J. 1947b: 150 (w.) MEXICO.
 * [First available use of Stenamma (Aphaenogaster) fulvum subsp. aquia var. aztecum Emery, 1895c: 305; unavailable name.]
 * Subspecies of fulva: Bolton, 1995b: 68.
 * Status as species: Shattuck & Cover, 2016: 12.
 * Junior synonym of miamiana: Mackay & Mackay, 2017: 310.

Type Material
Described from eight workers, three females and a male taken by A. E. Wight at Miami, Florida (type-locality), two females from the same locality taken by M. Hebard, several workers collected by myself on Paradise Key and at Planter on Key Largo and three workers from Biscayne Bay (Mrs. A. T. Slosson).



A single worker labeled as “Aphaenogaster fulvum aquia var. aztecum Em, Mexico” and “from Emery” and matching Emery’s description is held in the. While not labeled as a type it seems highly likely that if not a true type this specimen was certainly identified by Emery and is likely to be conspecific with the true type material.

Worker
Length 5-5.7 mm.

More robust and averaging larger than the other forms of texana: head broader and less narrowed behind, though without posterior corners, the postocular outline from above semicircular; antennal scapes stouter and slightly shorter; epinotal spines longer, slender and acute. Sculpture decidedly coarser throughout, mandibles, clypeus and head more strongly longitudinally rugose; pronotum and base of epinotum transversely, sides of thorax longitudinally rugulose. Pubescence on legs somewhat more distinct and more abundant. Rich ferruginous red, antennae paler, posterior portion of gaster dark brown; coxae and legs yellow-brown.

Queen
(dealated). Length about 7 mm.

Smaller than the female of the typical texana which measures 8-8.5 mm. and exhibiting the same differences in sculpture, pilosity and color as the worker.

Male
Length 4.5 mm.

Very similar to the male of the typical texana but the head slightly broader and the epinotal protuberances of a different shape, being less swollen and not separated by a longitudinal dorsal impression. Mesonotum less shining and more sharply rugulose posteriorly.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Addison D. S., I. Bartoszek, V. Booher, M. A. Deyrup, M. Schuman, J. Schmid, and K. Worley. 2016. Baseline surveys for ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the western Everglades, Collier County, Florida. Florida Entomologist 99(3): 389-394.
 * Annotated Ant Species List Ordway-Swisher Biological Station. Downloaded at http://ordway-swisher.ufl.edu/species/os-hymenoptera.htm on 5th Oct 2010.
 * Clouse R. 1999. Leaf-Litter Inhabitants of a Brazilian Pepper Stand in Everglades National Park. The Florida Entomologist. 82: 388-403
 * Deyrup M., L. Deyrup, and J. Carrel. 2013. Ant Species in the Diet of a Florida Population of Eastern Narrow-Mouthed Toads, Gastrophryne carolinensis. Southeastern Naturalist 12(2): 367-378.
 * Deyrup, Mark A., Carlin, Norman, Trager, James and Umphrey, Gary. 1988. A Review of the Ants of the Florida Keys. The Florida Entomologist. 71(2):163-176.
 * Forster J.A. 2005. The Ants (hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Alabama. Master of Science, Auburn University. 242 pages.
 * Ipser R. M. 2004. Native and exotic ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Georgia: Ecological Relationships with implications for development of biologically-based management strategies. Doctor of Philosophy thesis, University of Georgia. 165 pages.
 * Ipser, R.M., M.A. Brinkman, W.A. Gardner and H.B. Peeler. 2004. A Survey of Ground-Dwelling Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Georgia. The Florida Entomologist 87(3) 253-260.
 * Jeanne R. J. 1979. A latitudinal gradient in rates of ant predation. Ecology 60(6): 1211-1224.
 * Longino, J.T. 2010. Personal Communication. Longino Collection Database
 * MacGown J. A., J. G. Hill, and R. L. Brown. 2010.  Native and exotic ant in Mississippi state parks.  Proceedings:  Imported Fire Ant Conference, Charleston, South Carolina, March 24-26, 2008: 74-80.
 * MacGown, J. A. and J. G. Hill. 2010. Two new exotic pest ants, Pseudomyrmex gracilis and Monomorium floricola (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) collected in Mississippi. Midsouth Entomologist 3 (2): 106-109.
 * MacGown, J. and J.G. Hill. Ants collected at Palestinean Gardens, George County Mississippi.
 * MacGown, J.A and J.A. Forster. 2005. A preliminary list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Alabama, U.S.A. Entomological News 116(2):61-74
 * Moreau C. S., M. A. Deyrup, and L. R. David Jr. 2014. Ants of the Florida Keys: Species Accounts, Biogeography, and Conservation (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Insect Sci. 14(295): DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieu157
 * Smith M. R. 1933. Additional species of Florida ants, with remarks. Florida Entomologist 17: 21-26.
 * Umphrey G. J. 1996. Morphometric discrimination among sibling species in the fulva-rudis-texana complex of the ant genus Aphaenogaster (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Can. J. Zool. 74: 528-559.
 * Van Pelt A., and J. B. Gentry. 1985. The ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Savannah River Plant, South Carolina. Dept. Energy, Savannah River Ecology Lab., Aiken, SC., Report SRO-NERP-14, 56 p.
 * Wetterer, J.K. and J.A. Moore. 2005. Red Imported Fire Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) at Gopher Tortoise (Testudines: Testudinidae) Burrows. The Florida Entomologist 88(4):349-354
 * Wheeler W. M. 1932. A list of the ants of Florida with descriptions of new forms. J. N. Y. Entomol. Soc. 40: 1-17.