| Aphaenogaster Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A. swammerdami worker | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Stenammini |
| Genus: | Aphaenogaster Mayr, 1853 |
| Type species | |
| Aphaenogaster sardoa Mayr, 1853 | |
| Diversity [1] | |
| 200 species | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Aphaenogaster is a genus of myrmicine ants in the tribe Stenammini. About 200 species have been described, including 18 fossil species. [1] They occur worldwide except in South America south of Colombia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Antarctica. [2]
Contents
Aphaenogaster colonies have monomorphic workers. They have four-segmented antennal clubs and 12-segmented antennae. [3]
In Australia, they often build dense, conspicuous nests. [4] Nest entrances are generally funnel-shaped with diameters up to 4 cm, which resulted in the common name funnel ants. These nests can be a serious problem for golfers or on pastures and unsealed airstrips, because the fragile surface easily collapses under pressure. [3] Where it occurs, Aphaenogaster bioturbation is an important soil and landscape process. [4]
Aphaenogaster ants probably get most of their food from tended aphids on the roots of plants, which explains that they are rarely seen on the surface. The funnel-shaped openings could play a role in trapping arthropods, which are also eaten. [3]
