Aphaenogaster lamellidens Mayr

Subfamily MYRMICINAE Tribe PHEIDOLINI Aphaenogaster lamellidens Mayr

Aphaenogaster lamellidens, full face view of worker (click image to enlarge).	Aphaenogaster lamellidens, profile view of worker. The contrasting dark brown femora and tibae are often seen on specimens from this part of the country (click image to enlarge).

Aphaenogaster lamellidens, full face view of worker (click image to enlarge).	Aphaenogaster lamellidens, profile view of worker (click image to enlarge).

Aphaenogaster lamellidens, full face view of queen (click image to enlarge).	Aphaenogaster lamellidens, profile view of queen (click image to enlarge).

Aphaenogaster lamellidens colony (click image to enlarge).	Aphaenogaster lamellidens pupae and larvae (click image to enlarge).

Aphaenogaster lamellidens workers attacking Bess beetle (Odontotaenius disjunctus: Passalidae) (click image to enlarge).
Introduction Ants in the genus Aphaenogaster are medium sized to large, slender with long legs and antennae, usually have propodeal spines (a few species lack spines), have 12 segmented antennae with the last 4 segments forming a weak club. The genus is widespread in North America and species nest in rotting wood, under bark, and in soil. Identification Aphaenogaster lamellidens is one of our larger species of Aphaenogaster (in this region). It is reddish-brown with strong sculpture, often contrasting dark legs, and relatively long spines. Identification is relatively easy as they possess a tooth-like lobe on the frontal carina that points rearward toward the posterior of the head. Biology and Economic Importance Aphaenogaster lamellidens, in my estimation, must be one of the most common ants in forested areas in central to north MS (and AL). This species often has large colonies and nests in soil at the bases of trees, under rotting logs, in rotting wood, under bark, and in standing trees. In MS, alates have been collected in late June. Distribution Literature Cited Links AntWeb Images Discover Life Images