A synoptic review of the ants of California (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Author Ward, P. S. text Zootaxa 2005 936 1 68 http://antbase.org/ants/publications/21008/21008.pdf journal article 21008 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 ground-nesting ants, with somewhat generalized scavenging habits. Species identification: keys in Creighton (1950a), Wheeler and Wheeler (1986g) and Mackay and Mackay (2002). Additional references: Creighton (1955), De Andrade (1995), Hoelldobler and Carlin (1990), Hoelldobler et al. (1995), Johnson (2000a, 2001), Jones and Phillips (1989), Sanders and Gordon (2002), Schulz (1994), Smith (1963c), Umphrey (1996), Wheeler and Creighton (1934).