Aphaenogaster rugulosa

Japanese Name

Yonaguni-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, p. 729, Hokkaido Univ. Press, Sapporo.

Total length of workers around 5 mm. Head and mesosoma blackish brown; antennae, mandibles, legs, petiole, postpetiole and gaster dark brown. Antennae, mesosoma and legs relatively rather short compared to other Japanese Aphaenogaster species. Posterior border of head nearly flat in full face view. Head shining, covered with distinct striae and punctures; longitudinal striae on frontal area reaching occipital carina. Striation on pronotal dorsum more distinct than on head, interspaces shining. Pronotal humeri not angulate. Mesosoma distinctly raised, often higher than pronotum, covered with striae and punctures. Lateral portions of mesopleura covered with striae and punctures, but lacking reticulate sculpture. Propodeal spines rather slender, with acute apices. Similsar in body shape to A. japonica and A. edentula. Chromosome number 2n=34.

Nests in the soil of woodland, including its margins. Both gastral turn-down while foraging and death-feigning have been observed in the workers.

Yonaguni I.