Aphaenogaster spinosa

Casevitz-Weulersse (1990a) calculated after an ecological survey from 234 samples in 189 localities, that A. spinosa is one of the most common epigeic ant species on the island of Corsica (France). The species is dominant in nearly every habitat, especially at altitudes below 400 m, but is also present above 1200 m. (Boer, 2013)

Identification
A member of the A. testaceopilosa group. Boer (2013) - The worker of Aphaenogaster semipolita resemble A. spinosa because of their body shine, but the two can easily be separated by the characters given in the key. These species are allopatric. Aphaenogaster spinosa most resembles Aphaenogaster iberica, especially because of the sturdy propodeal spines. Both species differ in the ratio between the SI and the CI. In both species, the degree of shiny parts varies greatly. For gynes and males see A. iberica.


 * Key to European Aphaenogaster workers
 * Key to Aphaenogaster European testaceopilosa-group workers and males

Distribution
Although this species is commonly collected, its distribution area is restricted to central Italy, along the Tyrrhenian Sea, Sardinia and Corsica (Rigato & Toni, 2011).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: France, Italy , Switzerland.

Nomenclature

 *  spinosa. Aphaenogaster testaceopilosa var. spinosa Emery, 1878b: 54, fig. (w.) ITALY. Emery, 1908c: 320 (q.m.). Raised to species: Dalla Torre, 1893: 105. Subspecies of testaceopilosa: Emery, 1908c: 320; Emery, 1916b: 131; Emery, 1921f: 63. Revived status as species: Bondroit, 1918: 162; Santschi, 1933c: 390; Bernard, 1967: 133; Baroni Urbani, 1969a: 326. Senior synonym of nitida, romana and material of the unavailable name corsica referred here: Baroni Urbani, 1971d: 1039; of corsica, etrusca: Boer, 2013: 65. See also: Casevitz-Weulersse, 1990a: 152.
 * corsica. Aphaenogaster corsica Casevitz-Weulersse, 2010: 5, pl. 1, figs. A,C,E (w.m.) FRANCE (Corsica). Junior synonym of spinosa: Boer, 2013: 65.
 * etrusca. Aphaenogaster spinosa subsp. etrusca Baroni Urbani, 1969a: 328, fig. 1 (w.) ITALY. Junior synonym of spinosa: Boer, 2013: 65.
 * nitida. Aphaenogaster testaceopilosa var. nitida Krausse, 1912b: 163 (w.) ITALY. [First available use of Stenamma (Aphaenogaster) testaceopilosum subsp. spinosum var. nitidum Emery, 1895b: 70; unavailable name.] Subspecies of testaceopilosa: Finzi, 1924a: 13; of spinosa: Bondroit, 1918: 162; Santschi, 1933c: 390. Junior synonym of spinosa: Baroni Urbani, 1971d: 1039; Casevitz-Weulersse, 1990a: 152.
 * romana. Aphaenogaster spinosa var. romana Santschi, 1933c: 390 (w.) ITALY. [First available use of Stenamma (Aphaenogaster) testaceopilosum subsp. spinosum var. romanum Emery, 1895b: 70; unavailable name.] Junior synonym of spinosa: Baroni Urbani, 1971d: 1039.

Description
Boer (2013) :

Worker
Lateral sides of mesosoma with longitudinal rugulae. Rugulae on dorsum of pronotum and propodeum fine or absent. Head with longitudinal rugulae with some cross-connections, rugulae sometimes almost lacking especially on occiput and temples. Punctation on head (often absent on occiput and temples) and mesosoma. Occiput, temples, legs and lateral sides of petioles microreticulated. Terminal side of propodeum, beneath the propodeal spines smooth and shiny, sometimes transversely costulate. Dorsum of petioles smooth to weak rugulose and punctate. Dorsal side of postpetiole with longitudinal costulae which continue on first gastral tergite as microstriae; first gastral tergite may be smooth. Lateral side of temples, underside of head, terminal side of propodeum, beneath the propodeal spines, lateral sides of gaster and lateral sides of petioles shiny. Dorsal side of first gastral tergite matt to shiny. Ventral part of petioles wax gloss to shiny. Antennal club 4-segmented. Lateral shape of petiole with narrow, round top. Petiole equal in height as postpetiole or somewhat higher.

Measurements (n = 46). CI 74–84 (79); CL 1.27–1.59 (1.47) mm; CW 0.95–1.33 (1.14) mm; PHI 30–34 (31); PI 71–87 (79); PPPI 46–60 (52); PSI 177–267 (221); PSLWI 115–183 (141); PWI 22–25 (23); RPH 113–156 (132); RPSI 59–100 (77); SI 123–151 (138); SI/CI 146–201 (176); SL 1.36–1.75 (1.58) mm; SPD 1–3 (1.7); SPL 1–5 (2.3).

Queen
According to Emery (1908): Lateral sides of head shiny. Space between the rugulae on the thorax smooth and rather shiny.

Male
Rugulae are absent on the whole body. Partly striated on mesosomal dorsum. Head punctate, rest of body smooth or at least weakly punctate. Dorsum of gaster weakly microreticulate. Head glossy. Mesosoma and lateral sides of gaster shiny. Dorsum of gaster glossy. Antennal club 5-segmented. Pubescence on hind tibia and scape appressed to decumbent, their length about equal to diameter of tibia/scape. Scutellum erect above mesoscutum. Mandibles with one large apical tooth, 2 or 3 smaller teeth, and 2–3 denticles. Anterior and posterior half of propodeum makes a nearly right angle. A weak longitudinal groove between the two knobs at the terminal side of the propodeum.

Measurements (n = 6). CI 92–95 (93); CL 0.76–0.81(0.80) mm; CW: 0.72–0.78 (0.74) mm; EYI 39–43 (41); OCI 45–53 (50); SL/CL 48–52 (50); SL 0.41 mm.

Type Material
Holotype: France, Corsica: Region Belgodère, 27.ix.1973 (Casevitz-Weulersse), 1 worker holotype of A. corsica Casevitz-Weulersse and paratypes of the same date and location, 7 workers, 5 males. Syntypes: Italy, Sardinia: 1872, 5 workers (Vito & Gestro, ); syntypes of A. spinosa etrusca: Italy, Volterra (Pisa), iv.1963, 8 workers and 30.v.1962, 2 workers (Baroni Urbani, BUMW).