Aphaenogaster tennesseensis
(Mayr, 1862)
Tennessee Collared Ant, Tennessee Spine-waisted Ant
Aphaenogaster tennesseensis is a medium-sized in the Formicidae, commonly known as the Tennessee Collared Ant or Tennessee Spine-waisted Ant. It belongs to the Aphaenogaster, a diverse group of ants found primarily in temperate and subtropical regions. The species has been documented in the eastern United States, with records from Vermont and other states. have been observed foraging on fungi and scavenging dead or injured insects.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Aphaenogaster tennesseensis: //əˌfiːnəˈɡæstər ˌtɛnəˈsiːɪnsɪs//
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Images
Distribution
Eastern United States; documented in Vermont and other states.
Diet
Scavenges dead or injured insects; observed foraging on fungi.
Behavior
forage individually for food resources to bring back to the colony to feed larvae.
Ecological Role
Scavenger and forager; contributes to nutrient cycling by consuming dead insects and organic matter.
Similar Taxa
- Aphaenogaster mariaeBoth belong to Aphaenogaster and share general body plan, but A. mariae is arboreal and nests in dry decayed wood, while A. tennesseensis is ground-foraging.
- Aphaenogaster occidentalisBoth are western/central North American Aphaenogaster with similar ; A. occidentalis is a omnivore with broader distribution.
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- Wikipedia
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Catalogue of Life
- Colony of Red Ants Roams the Bohart Museum of Entomology | Bug Squad
- Bug Eric: Fungus Party-y-y!
- Bug Eric: 2022
- Aphaenogaster mariae, male - Entomology Today
- Aphaenogaster mariae, worker - Entomology Today
- Aphaenogaster mariae colony in tree limb - Entomology Today