Aphaenogaster azteca
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BibTeX: @article{Shattuck2016Zootaxa4175, RIS/ Endnote: TY - JOUR Wikipedia/ Citizendium: <ref name="Shattuck2016Zootaxa4175">{{Citation |
Ordo: Hymenoptera
Familia: Formicidae
Genus: Aphaenogaster
Name
Aphaenogaster azteca Enzmann, J. 1947 – Wikispecies link – Pensoft Profile
- Aphaenogaster azteca Shattuck, Steve, 2016, Zootaxa 4175: 12-13.
Materials Examined
Mexico Raised Museo Civico di Storia Naturale & Genoa
Discussion
Mexico Emery , Mexico Emery
Description
When comparing Emery’s specimen of A. azteca with A. fulva specimens, similar body color and development of sculpturing can be found in A. fulva specimens. However, darker A. fulva workers also have darker legs, which are similar in color to the body. In contrast, the legs in A. azteca are distinctly lighter in color compared to the body. Also, as noted by Emery, the propodeal spines in A. azteca are directed posteriorly (are nearly horizontal) while in A. fulva these spines are directed strongly upwards. These last two characters readily separate these two taxa. Finally, A. fulva is most abundant in the eastern and southeastern US although it is known from as far west as New Mexico (a doubtful record) and eastern Texas, but has been only rarely encountered there. A. azteca was collected from an unknown locality in Mexico, an area where A. fulva does not occur, or at least not commonly. These morphological and geographic differences strongly suggest that these two taxa are both distinct and we propose raising A. azteca to full species status.
Taxon Treatment
- Shattuck, Steve; Cover, Stefan; 2016: Taxonomy of some little-understood North American ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 4175: 12-13. doi
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