Aphaenogaster Mayr

Ward, P. S., 2005, A synoptic review of the ants of California (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 936, pp. 1-68 : 31

Genus Aphaenogaster Mayr

Of the six species of this genus occurring in California, one ( A. occidentalis (Emery)) is widespread in mesic habitats, four are confined to deserts, and one species ( A. patruelis Forel ) is endemic to the Channel Islands and Isla Guadalupe. All are ground­nesting ants, with somewhat generalized scavenging habits.

Species identification: keys in Creighton ( 1950 a), Wheeler and Wheeler ( 1986g) and Mackay and Mackay ( 2002). Additional references: Creighton ( 1955), De Andrade ( 1995), Hölldobler and Carlin ( 1990), Hölldobler et al. ( 1995), Johnson ( 2000 a, 2001), Jones and Phillips ( 1989), Sanders and Gordon ( 2002), Schulz ( 1994), Smith ( 1963 c), Umphrey ( 1996), Wheeler and Creighton ( 1934).