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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Bees, Ants, and other Stinging Wasps » Ants, Stinging Wasps, and Hornets (Vespoidea) » Ants (Formicidae) » Myrmicinae » Spine-waisted Ants (Aphaenogaster)
Photo#257267
Most excellent ant - but who? - Aphaenogaster
Copyright © 2009 Cathy Wilson

Most excellent ant - but who? - Aphaenogaster
Patagonia Lake State Park, Arizona, USA
March 3, 2009
Size: Tiny
It seems so different from my Ohio ants. I have no idea what it's carrying.
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Contributed by Cathy Wilson on 8 March, 2009 - 3:55pm
Last updated 27 March, 2009 - 10:03pm

It is an Aphaenogaster (used
It is an Aphaenogaster (used to be Veromessor), either cockerelli or albisetosus. Based on color I would say albisetosus. Hard to tell what it is carrying though.
… Gordon C. Snelling, 8 March, 2009 - 10:15pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks, Gordon!
I love the Latin. Perhaps if I 'google' it I'll discern the sense behind those elegant syllables ;0)
… Cathy Wilson, 9 March, 2009 - 7:33am login or register to post comments

 
"albisetosus" means basically "with white setae" (i.e., hairs).
As for genus name "Aphaenogaster", this is a mix of Greek and Latin roots meaning something like "with unapparent belly". This is not very diagnostic, since many other Myrmicine Ants share this feature.
I think this worker is carrying a seed of some Leguminous plant back to her nest.
… Richard Vernier, 10 March, 2009 - 2:28pm login or register to post comments

 
Richard! Delightful!
Thanks so much. I HAD noticed the white hairs, but had no idea the Latin designated them. How wonderful. How did you become so proficient with these words and do you have a favorite book/site for further study?
… Cathy Wilson, 10 March, 2009 - 2:38pm login or register to post comments

 
Another inquiry, Richard . . .
No one's taken a crack at the dragonfly I posted yesterday. I found it in the same place as the ant. Do you 'do' dragonflies?
… Cathy Wilson, 10 March, 2009 - 2:41pm login or register to post comments

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