Aphaenogaster gracillima

Japanese Name

Kubinaga-ashinaga-ari

Watanabe, H. & Yamane, S. (1999) New species and new status in the genus Aphaenogaster (Formicidae) from Japan. In: Identification Guide to the Aculeata of the Nansei Islands, pp. 735-736, Hokkaido Univ. Press, Sapporo.

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. Chromosome number 2n=28. Similar to A. donann, but distinguished by worker coloration and male morphology.

This species nests in the soil or rotting wood.

Yaeyama Is.