Paratrechina flavipes

Japanese Name

Ameiro-ari

Smith, F. (1874) Descriptions of new species of Tenthredinidae, Ichneumonidae, Chrysididae, Formicidae, &c. of Japan. Transactions of the Entomological Society of London (4) 7: 373-409.

Tapinoma flavipes F. Smith (F. Smith, 1874) , Prenolepis flavipes (F. Smith) (Mayr, 1886) , Paratrechina flavipes (F. Smith) (Emery, 1925) ,

Total length of workers around 2 - 2.5 mm. Head and gaster blackish brown; mesosoma and legs yellow to yellowish brown (mesosoma blackish brown in some specimens - a matter of unknown possible taxonomic significance). Mandibles each with 6 teeth. Scapes longer than in P. sakurae; each exceeding posterior margin of head by 1/3 its length, and with several suberect hairs. Funiculi longer than wide. Eyes relatively small. Ocelli small and rather obscure, but 3 are recognizable. Mesosoma slightly longer than head length; pronotal dorsum convex in profile; mesonotal dorsum straight, posterior margin angulate. Metanotal groove deeply incised. Head and gaster with abundant erect hairs. Pronotal dorsum with several erect hairs, mesonotal dorsum with four, none on propodeum. Hind femora and tibiae with erect or suberect hairs.

This species nests in leaf litter, rotting wood, and in the soil of grasslands and forests. It feeds on plant nectar and small dead animals. On mainland Japan newly emerged queens overwinter in their mother nests. Nuptial flights occur from May to June.

Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Tsushima I., Kyushu, Yaku I., Kuchino-erabu I., Tokara Is; Mainland China, Korean Peninsula, Taiwan (?), United States (introduced).