Aphaenogaster fulva, this species is common in woodland habitat. I typically locate them in fallen logs, in well rotted wood with large chambers. This is the second Aphenogaster colony I have caught in the past week. I have found a group of 3 founding Aphaenogaster queens. Which I will get photos of once they settle in. But one is actually Aphenogaster tennesseensis, a parasitic species of Aphaenogaster spp’s. They infiltrate the other species nest, and kill the host colonies queen. Essentially overthrowing the queen. The conquered colonies workers then start to tend to the new queen, as well as her future brood. What I find interesting is that these A. fulva queens (I suspect), were founding a colony with 2 queens. I plan on doing some observations on this parasitic species founding behavior. I guess I will need more A. tennesseensis queens at some point!
