What is Aphaenogaster?
{{Taxobox | name = ''Aphaenogaster'' | image = Aphaenogaster.phillipsi.-.wheeler.svg | image_caption = ''A. phillipsi'' worker | image_width = 250px | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Arthropod]]a | classis = [[Insect]]a | ordo = [[Hymenoptera]] | familia = [[Formicidae]] | subfamilia = [[Myrmicinae]] | tribus = [[Pheidolini]] | genus = '''''Aphaenogaster''''' | genus_authority = [[Gustav Mayr|Mayr]], 1853 | type_species = ''[[Aphaenogaster sardoa]]'' | type_species_authority = Mayr, 1853 | diversity_link = Aphaenogaster | diversity = > 190 species | range_map = | range_map_width = 250px | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = > 190 | synonyms = ''Nystalomyrma'' }} '''''Aphaenogaster''''' is a [[genus]] of [[Myrmicinae|myrmicine]] [[ant]]s. Almost 200 [[species]] have been described. Also, 11 [[fossil]] species are known. They live worldwide except from [[South America]] and [[Southern Africa]]. They are often confused with ''[[Pheidole]]'' or ''[[Pheidologeton]]''. These two have major and minor workers, while ''Aphaenogaster'' has only a single worker caste. ''Pheidole'' has a 3-[[segmented]] club on its [[antenna]]. But ''Aphaenogaster'' has four segments and a larger body size. ''Pheidologeton'' has a 11-segmented antenna, while the antenna in ''Aphaenogaster'' is 12-segmented.<ref name=adu>Ants Down Under</ref> They make very thick, easily seen nests with many big entrances in a small place. These entrances can have [[diameter]]s of up to 4&nbsp;cm and are up to 30&nbsp;cm deep. This resulted in their common name '''funnel ants'''. These nests can be a bad problem for [[golf]]ers or on pastures and unsealed airstrips, because the [[wikt:fragile|fragile]] ground easily breaks under [[pressure]].<ref name=adu/> ''Aphaenogaster'' gets most of its food from tended [[aphid]]s on the [[root]]s of [[plant]]s. This explains that they are not commonly seen out of their tunnels. The funnel-shaped openings could play a role in trapping [[arthropod]]s, which are also eaten.<ref name=adu/> Although these a