Aphaenogaster gracillima

This species nests in the soil or rotting wood.

Identification
Total length of workers around 3.5 - 8 mm. Head and mesosoma reddish brown; mandibles lighter; scapes, legs and gaster dark brown. Scapes, mesosoma and legs distinctly long and slender. Head elongate behind eyes, in full face view strongly but gradually narrowed posteriorly. The funicular segments each elongate; the apical four lighter in color than the others. Mesonotum weakly raised and covered with irregular striation and punctation. Propodeal spines varying in shape from long and slender to short and broad. Similar to Aphaenogaster donann, but distinguished by worker coloration and male morphology. (Japanese Ant Image Database)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Japan.

Biology
Chromosome number 2n=28.

Nomenclature

 *  gracillima. Aphaenogaster gracillima Watanabe & Yamane, 1999: 735, figs. 4, 16 (w.q.m.) JAPAN.