Aphaenogaster mariae
This record describes Aphaenogaster mariae (species). Recorded family: Formicidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Striations fanning out from the base of the gaster:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Formicoidea
- Family
- Formicidae (Ants)
- Subfamily
- Myrmicinae
- Tribe
- Stenammini
- Genus
- Aphaenogaster (Spine-waisted Ants)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Uncommon, seems to be an arboreal ant, an unusual one in this genus of primarily ground/rotten wood nesting ants. Many records of them come from tree baiting.
Geographic Range
Scattered records from across the eastern US.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Recent observation of an arboreal colony from North Carolina are in Kirchner et al. (2023).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Aphaenogaster mariae (Forel, 1886) "August Forel named this species for Mrs. Mary Treat, who sent him a specimen from Florida."
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Aphaenogaster mariae. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Aphaenogaster mariae (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Brad Barnd; Additional contributions by cotinis , Steven Wang
Frequently Asked Questions About Aphaenogaster mariae
What is Aphaenogaster mariae?
Aphaenogaster mariae is a species in the family Formicidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Aphaenogaster mariae?
Striations fanning out from the base of the gaster:
Where is Aphaenogaster mariae found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Uncommon, seems to be an arboreal ant, an unusual one in this genus of primarily ground/rotten wood nesting ants. Many records of them come from tree baiting. |
| Range | Scattered records from across the eastern US. |
What is the life cycle of a Aphaenogaster mariae?
Recent observation of an arboreal colony from North Carolina are in Kirchner et al. (2023).