Ahnger worked for the Russian railway and telegraph services from the 1880s until the early 1930, stationed in different locations around the country including Irkutsk, Omsk, Ashgabat, Kokand and Taganrog.[3]
For his services, Ahnger was granted the Imperial Russian honorary title of Hovineuvos (Russian: надворный советник; see Court Councillor).[3]
On his extensive travels and postings around Russia, Ahnger collected over 60,000 insect and other specimens.[2] They are contained in the collections of the University of Helsinki, Saint Petersburg State University, Howard University, and others.[2]
He also established several museums in the cities he was posted to, and received a silver medal from the Russian Geographical Society for his scientific efforts.[2]
Over thirty species are named after him, including Anacanthotermes ahngerianus.[2][3]
