Aphaenogaster fulva

This species is found in mesic forests and meadows. Nests are found in logs and stumps or under stones. It is a temporary host of other members of the genus.

Identification
This species is easily separated from all other species in the genus by the form of the mesonotum, which is abruptly elevated above the level of the pronotum. This structure is actually a welt, which is concave in the middle (as seen from behind), or may appear as two broad tubercles.

This species can be separated from the Florida species Aphaenogaster umphreyi by the larger eyes, larger propodeal spines, and the developed spurs on both the middle and posterior tibiae. Additionally, this species is much more common.

Aphaenogaster fulva is diagnosed by the spines pointing upward from propodeum and the anterior edge of pronotum above mesonotum. They are similar to Aphaenogaster umphreyi, but have larger eyes and larger hind tibial spurs. The last four antennal segments are lighter in color. (DeMarco, 2015)

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



Biology
This species is found in forested areas under rotten wood.

Nomenclature

 *  fulva. Aphaenogaster fulva Roger, 1863a: 190 (w.) U.S.A.
 * Mayr, 1886d: 445 (q.m.).
 * Combination in Stenamma (Aphaenogaster): Emery, 1895c: 303.
 * Combination in Aphaenogaster: Mayr, 1863: 458; Wheeler, W.M. 1913c: 114.
 * Combination in Aphaenogaster (Attomyrma): Emery, 1921f: 57.
 * Status as species: Roger, 1863b: 30; Mayr, 1886d: 445; Dalla Torre, 1893: 102; Emery, 1895c: 303; Forel, 1901h: 82; Wheeler, W.M. 1904e: 303; Wheeler, W.M. 1906b: 5; Wheeler, W.M. 1916m: 586; Dennis, 1938: 285; Brown, 1949a: 49; Creighton, 1950a: 143; Smith, M.R. 1951a: 796; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1361; Bolton, 1995b: 69; Umphrey, 1996: 557 (in key); Mackay & Mackay, 2002: 74; Coovert, 2005: 46; Ellison, et al. 2012: 228.
 * Senior synonym of rubida: Brown, 1949a: 49.
 * Senior synonym of aquia: Shattuck & Cover, 2016: 13.
 * rubida. Aphaenogaster fulva var. rubida Enzmann, J. 1947b: 147, pl. 8 (w.) U.S.A.
 * Junior synonym of fulva: Brown, 1949a: 49.
 * aquia. Myrmica (Monomorium) aquia Buckley, 1867: 341 (w.q.) U.S.A.
 * Combination in Aphaenogaster: Mayr, 1886c: 365.
 * Junior synonym of fulva: Mayr, 1886c: 365; Mayr, 1886d: 445.
 * Subspecies of fulva: Emery, 1895c: 304; Wheeler, W.M. 1904e: 303; Wheeler, W.M. 1906b: 5; Wheeler, W.M. 1916m: 586; Wheeler, W.M. 1917a: 517; Emery, 1921f: 57; Smith, M.R. 1928b: 246; Dennis, 1938: 286; Smith, M.R. 1951a: 796.
 * Unidentifiable taxon; incertae sedis in Aphaenogaster: Creighton, 1950a: 148; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1363; Bolton, 1995b: 68.
 * Junior synonym of fulva: Shattuck & Cover, 2016: 13.