Aphaenogaster iberica

Identification
A member of the A. testaceopilosa group. The only species which resembles A. iberica is Aphaenogaster spinosa. Workers of A. spinosa are shinier and with smaller SI/CI. According to the description of Emery (1908) A. spinosa gynes are smooth and shiny on the lateral sides of the head, instead of matt, as in A. iberica. The scape of the male is shorter SL/CL < 43, than in A. spinosa >48. (Boer 2013)


 * Key to European Aphaenogaster workers

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Gibraltar, Iberian Peninsula, Portugal, Spain.

Nomenclature

 *  iberica. Aphaenogaster testaceopilosa subsp. iberica Emery, 1908c: 321, fig. 10 (w.m.) SPAIN. Raised to species: Bondroit, 1918: 162. See also: Santschi, 1933c: 390. Senior synonym of conica: Viehmeyer, 1922: 205; Santschi, 1925g: 341; of angusta, vieirai: Espadaler, 1983: 226. See also: Collingwood & Yarrow, 1969: 61.
 * conica. Aphaenogaster conica Viehmeyer, 1914b: 40 (w.) SPAIN. Junior synonym of iberica: Viehmeyer, 1922: 205; Santschi, 1925g: 341.
 * angusta. Aphaenogaster angusta Santschi, 1925g: 340, fig. 1 (w.) SPAIN. Junior synonym of iberica: Espadaler, 1983: 226.
 * vieirai. Aphaenogaster iberica var. vieirai Santschi, 1933c: 390 (w.m.) PORTUGAL. [First available use of Aphaenogaster testaceopilosa subsp. iberica var. vieirai Emery, 1908c: 321; unavailable name.] Junior synonym of iberica: Espadaler, 1983: 226.

Description
Boer (2013) :

Worker
Rugulose sculpture on dorsal side of pronotum fine, longitudinal or transverse or scabriculous, on propodeum absent or with transverse rugulae. Lateral sides of mesosoma with fine longitudinal rugulae or absent. Head with longitudinal rugulae and with some cross-connections, occiput mainly ruguloreticulated. Terminal side of propodeum, beneath the propodeal spines and petioles microreticulated. Postpetiole with fine longitudinal (seldom transverse) microstriae which continue on first gastral tergite. Dorsum of first gastral tergite with or without microstriae. Lateral side of temple and underside of head shiny satin. Terminal side of propodeum, beneath the propodeal spines and petiole glossy. Dorsal side of postpetiolus matt to glossy. Pronotum and dorsal side of gaster satin to moderately glossy. Lateral sides of gaster shiny satin to shiny. Occiput close to the collared edge shiny, rest of the head largely matt. Antennal club 4-segmented. Lateral shape of petiole with rounded to oval top. Petiole somewhat higher than postpetiole. Setosity mainly on propodeum and anterior side of fore coxa somewhat longer than those on the frontal side of the head, rest of the mesosoma, gaster and underside of the head.

Measurements (n = 30). CI 60–76 (71); CL 1.35–2.02 (1.59) mm; CW 0.95–1.50 (1.15) mm; PHI 27–37 (33); PI 67–85 (77); PPPI: 47–69 (54); PSI 133–250 (202); PSLWI 105–186 (138); PWI 20–25 (23); RPH 118–173 (144); RPSI 27–107 (70); SI 147–175 (161); SI/CI 196–277 (227); SL 1.55–2.14 (1.79) mm; SPD 1–3 (1.4); SPL 1–4 (1.7).

Queen
Rugulae on lateral and dorsal parts of mesosoma. Longitudinal rugulae on clypeus. Head anterior to the occiput with longitudinal rugulae without or with cross-connections, occiput ruguloreticulated. Ventral to the propodeal spines smooth. Transverse rugulae on dorsal pronotum and propodeum. Punctation distinct on the head, weak to very weak on the mesosoma and petioles. Transverse microstriae near base of first gastral tergite. Anterior side of petiole smooth. Mesoscutum matt glossy, dorsal side of gaster satin. Mesosoma, petiole and gaster matt to glossy. Antennal club 4-segmented. Scape longitudinally rugulose. Wings with a brownish tint. Scutellum rises above mesoscutum and does not bend over metanotum.

Measurements (n = 5). CI 79–82 (80); CL 1.59–1.77 (1.70) mm; CW 1.30–1.41 (1.38) mm; OCI 28–31 (30); PHI 42–44 (43); PI 65–73 (70); PPPI 67–75 (70); PSI 193–236 (223); PSLWI: 108–145 (126); PWI 28–31 (30); RPH 134–159 (151); RPSI 54–81 (70); SI 123–131 (128); SI/CI 152–166 (159); SL 1.59–1.84 (1.75) mm; SPL 4–5 (4.8).

Male
Weak or no rugulose sculpture on mesonotum. If there are propodeal projections, than rugulae are present between them. Punctation on head (partly), pronotum, mesoscutum, scutellum, lateral sides of mesosoma and petioles. Microstriae on base of dorsal side of first gastral tergite. Clypeus smooth. Head, pronotum, mesoscutum, scutellum, lateral sides of mesosoma and petioles matt. Dorsal side of propodeum and gaster satin to wax glossy. Antennal club 5-segmented. Pubescence on scape and hind tibia appressed to decumbent, their length shorter than the diameter of the scape/tibia. Scutellum erected above mesoscutum, bent over metanotum. Frontal midline weak or absent. A transverse groove in the middle of the propodeal dorsum. Posterior part of propodeum raised, forming two knobs or triangular projections, with longitudinal groove in between.

Measurements (n = 4). CI 88–96 (92); CL 0.73–0.89 (0.81) mm; CW 0.70–0.78 (0.74) mm; EYI 40–45 (43); OCI 41–46 (44); SL/CL 40–43 (42); SL 0.32–0.38 (0.34) mm.