Contents Contents The Ants of Egypt
SUBFAMILY MYRMICINAE - Genus Aphaenogaster Mayr

Genus Aphaenogaster Mayr (1853b: 107)

Mayr's (1853b) genus description is at {original description}

In Myrmicinae: Pheidolini (Bolton, 1995: 20). Emery (1921f) separated four subgenera, of which the following are relevant to Egypt -
Deromyrma (Forel Emery - worker with the head elongated behind into a distinct neck, sometimes extremely long (as in Madagascar species); antennae slender, usually terminated in a weak four-segmented club
Attomyrma - head not elongated behind; antennae terminating in a four-segmented club much thicker than rest of the funiculus; basal segment of gaster smooth or longitudinally striated.

See also Bondroit (1918: 155 ff, illustrated) {original description}. Bondroit separated Attomyrma Em. as with legs solely with pubescence; whereas Aphaenogaster Mayr had legs bristling with erect hairs.
He noted splendida as being yellowish red, with the propodeum impressed between the spines; TL 5-6 mm.
A. syriaca was not separated, still being under gibbosa - body colour at least brown; head matt; from Emery (1908c: 335) dark reddish-yellow, with gaster brown, TL 4 mm.

Walker (1871) gave the queen of A. pallescens as black and shining, with the anterior head tawny; antennae, gaster and legs testaceous.

Egyptian species

Aphaenogaster sardoa cf foreli Cagniant - possibly = Pheidole fadli - see Wolf, K. 1915. Studien ueber palaearktische Formiciden. 1. Berichte des Naturwissenschaftlich-Medizinischen Veriens in Innsbruck, 35, 39-52

Aphaenogaster pallida
Aphaenogaster (Attomyrma) pallida (Nylander)
Aphaenogaster splendida
Aphaenogaster (Attomyrma) splendida (Roger)
Aphaenogaster syriaca
Aphaenogaster (Attomyrma) syriaca Emery
No images available
Aphaenogaster pallescens Walker
Aphenogaster philippsi
Aphaenogaster (Deromyrma) phillipsi Wheeler & Mann
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