 The posterior to the eyes are convex, where it converges towards the occiput (the back of the head) and forms a collar seen in several Aphaenogaster species. The ants have large, triangular mandibles with three apical teeth and a flat clypeus. The eyes are large with 400 facets, but workers from small incipient colonies only have 200 facets. Workers from incipient also differ from workers living in mature colonies, notably in size, body shape and coloration. The average length is 5.56 – 6.5 millimetres (0.219 – 0.256 in); the head is 1.52 – 1.69 millimetres (0.060 – 0.067 in) long and 0.98 – 1.12 millimetres (0.039 – 0.044 in) wide. The epinotal spines (spines found on the first abdominal segment that protect the pedicel) are much shorter. Hair is also less noticeable on the workers.
