Additions to the Ant Fauna of Turkey (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Delineation of species of the Tetramoriumcaespitum complex (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Anatolia with a diagnosis of related species-complexes

The high level of morphological crypsis of the hyper-diverse Palearctic Tetramoriumcaespitum group have challenged taxonomists for decades. Within this group, Wagner et al. (2017) offered a multidisciplinary solution for the delimitation of ten European species of the Tetramoriumcaespitum complex. Anatolia, harboring a high level of endemism in ants, has never been subject of focus research within this genus. In this study, the Tetramoriumcaespitum complex diversity in Anatolia and the Caucasus region was investigated by examining 191 nest-samples using an in-depth integrative-taxonomic approach. Quantitative morphometric and microsatellite data of 505 and 133 workers, respectively, and genital-morphology data of 33 nests were collected. Unsupervised analyses provided independent species-hypotheses based on the morphological and molecular disciplines. Based on the final species-hypotheses, we confirm T.caespitum (Linnaeus, 1758), T.hungaricum Röszler, 1935, T.indocile Santschi, 1927, T.caucasicumWagner et al., 2017, T.impurum (Foerster, 1850), T.immigrans Santschi, 1927, and T.flavidulum Santschi, 1910 as valid species of the T.caespitum complex occurring in Anatolia. A lectotype of T.flavidulum was designated. The host of the temporary social-parasitic species Tetramoriumaspina Wagner et al., 2018 is T.caucasicum instead of T.immigrans - as it was suggested before. An identification key to species complexes of the T.caespitum group and to workers of the species of the T.caespitum complex in Anatolia is provided. Every cluster we identified could be linked to described species and the region's species-composition is similar to those of the Balkans and Central Europe.

Ecological diversification preceded geographical expansion during the evolutionary radiation of Cataglyphis desert ants

Biological diversity often arises as organisms adapt to new ecological conditions (i.e., ecological opportunities) or colonize suitable areas (i.e., spatial opportunities). Cases of geographical expansion followed by local ecological divergence are well described; they result in clades comprising ecologically heterogeneous subclades. Here, we show that the desert ant genus Cataglyphis likely originated in open grassland habitats in the Middle East ∼18 million years ago and became a taxon of diverse species specializing in prey of different masses. The genus then colonized the Mediterranean Basin around 9 million years ago. The result was the rapid accumulation of species, and the appearance of local assemblages containing species from different lineages that still displayed ancestral foraging specialties. These findings highlight that, in Cataglyphis, ecological diversification preceded geographical expansion, resulting in a clade composed of ecologically homogeneous subclades.

Fungi Associated with Messor Ants on the Balkan Peninsula: First Biogeographical Data

Ant nests’ relatively stable and long-lasting microhabitats present ideal living conditions for many uni- and multicellular organisms, whose relationships range from mutualistic to parasitic. Messor harvester ants inhabit arid and semi-arid open areas where their colonies consist of large numbers of individuals. Due to the high number of other organisms associated with harvester ants, their nests can be defined as islands for unique biota. Despite significant progress in research on ant-associated fungi in Europe, little is still known about the recently described ectoparasitic fungus Rickia lenoirii Santamaria, 2015 (Laboulbeniales), found on two species of ants of the genus Messor. Here we report for the first time the occurrence of the ectoparasitic ant-associated fungus R. lenoirii from three countries (Albania, Bulgaria, and continental Greece) and multiple localities in the Balkans. The fungus was detected on four ant host species—Messor structor (Latreille, 1798), M. wasmanni Krausse, 1910, M. hellenius Agosti & Collingwood, 1987, and M. mcarthuri Steiner et al., 2018 with the latter two representing new host records. Furthermore, spores of the widespread endoparasitic fungus of ants, Myrmicinosporidium durum Hölldobler, 1933 (Blastocladiomycota), were reported for the first time in Messor structor (Bulgaria). Images of the ant-associated Rickia lenoirii taken with a scanning electron microscope, a comparison with R. wasmannii, and a distribution map are also presented.

New and little-known ant species (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Bulgaria

Background

Many faunistic studies on the myrmecofauna of Bulgaria have been carried out and about 180 ant species (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from 43 genera and six subfamilies have been discovered as a result. Although the Bulgarian ant fauna is considered to be relatively well studied, the finding of unrecorded species continues, especially amongst the rare social parasites and the species with a more southern distribution in the Balkans.

New information

The current study presents data on 11 ant species recorded for the first time in Bulgaria (Messorhellenius Agosti & Collingwood, 1987, M.mcarthuri Steiner et al., 2018, Crematogasterionia Forel, 1911, Monomoriummonomorium Bolton, 1987, Temnothoraxaeolius (Forel, 1911), T.cf.exilis(formdarii Forel, 1911), T.finzii (Menozzi, 1925), T.rogeri Emery, 1869, Tetramoriumcf.punicum, Plagiolepisxene Stärcke, 1936 and Lasiusreginae Faber, 1967), as well as new locality data on 15 rarely found species. Some of the species, such as Hypoponeraeduardi (Forel, 1894), Strumigenysargiola (Emery, 1869), Temnothoraxgraecus (Forel, 1911), Tetramoriumdiomedeum Emery, 1908, Camponotusionius Emery, 1920 and C.tergestinus Müller, 1921, have been known so far only from a single locality in Bulgaria.The dataset of all records presented in this work was published separately through Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF, https://doi.org/10.15468/mngbzp).

A striking color variation is detected in Ponera testacea Emery, 1895 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) across its Western Palaearctic geographic range

In this paper, we provide numeric morphology-based evidence that the dark-colored Poneracoarctatavar.lucida Emery, 1898, formerly considered a synonym of P.coarctata (Latreille, 1802), is conspecific with the lighter-colored Poneratestacea Emery, 1895. Species hypotheses are developed via NC-PART clustering, combined with Partitioning Algorithm based on Recursive Thresholding (PART), and via PCA combined with gap statistics. We obtained our results from an extensive dataset from the 10 continuous morphometric traits measured on 165 workers belonging to 73 nest samples. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) confirmed the grouping of hypotheses generated by exploratory analyses with 100% classification success when all ten morphometric traits were involved. The Anatolian Turkish black and the predominantly European yellow samples, did not separate based on their morphometric characteristics. These two color variations broadly overlap in their geographic range in Anatolian Turkey. The investigated type series of Poneracoarctatavar.lucida Emery, 1898 (collected from Kazakhstan) fell within the P.testacea cluster instead of P.coarctata and is also classified with high certainty as P.testacea by confirmatory LDA. Therefore, we propose the synonymy of Poneracoarctatavar.lucida Emery, 1898 with Poneratestacea Emery, 1895. As no other morphological differences than color patterns were detected between the “black” and “pale” P.testacea samples, we hold that these populations constitute geographically occurring color variations of the same species. Finally, our quantitative morphology-based results show that relying on color patterns is not a robust approach in identifying European Ponera samples, particularly in the east, but using multivariate analyses of morphometric traits is advised instead.

Ant genus Strongylognathus (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Bulgaria: a preliminary review

Background

Strongylognathus Mayr, 1853 is a Palaearctic genus, comprising 25 ant species and one subspecies, all permanent social parasites, infesting colonies of various species of Tetramorium Mayr, 1855. They have patchy distribution throughout their areas and most of them are very rare and listed as vulnerable.

The taxonomy of the Strongylognathushuberi group needs thorough revision and the results presented below can be considered as preliminary.

New information

Four species of the socially parasitic ant genus Strongylognathus (S.karawajewi Pisarski, 1966, S.huberidalmaticus Baroni Urbani, 1969, S.afer Emery, 1884 and S.italicus Finzi, 1924) are recorded for the first time from Bulgaria and, together with the previously-known S.testaceus and S.bulgaricus stat. rev., their total number reaches six. The taxonomic position and geographic distribution of all species are discussed and a Key for their identification, based on worker caste, is compiled.

Monomorium (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Arabian Peninsula with description of two new species, M. heggyi sp. n. and M. khalidi sp. n

We present a revised and updated synoptic list of 44 Arabian Monomorium species, including two new species of the M. salomonis species-group: M. heggyi sp. n., and M. khalidi sp. n. We propose the following new synonyms: M. abeillei André (= M. wahibiense Collingwood & Agosti syn. n.); M. areniphilum Santschi (= M. fezzanense Collingwood & Agosti syn. n., = M. hemame Collingwood & Agosti syn. n. = M. marmule Collingwood & Agosti syn. n.); M. bicolor Emery (= M. phoenicum Santschi syn. n.); M. harithe Collingwood & Agosti (= M. najrane Collingwood & Agosti syn. n.); M. niloticum Emery (= M. matame Collingwood & Agosti syn. n.); and M. nitidiventre Emery (= M. yemene Collingwood & Agosti syn. n.). An illustrated key and distribution maps are presented for the treated species. Ecological and biological notes are given when available. The majority of Arabian Monomorium species (24) are endemic to the peninsula. All except one of the remaining species are more broadly ranging Afrotropical and Palearctic species, supporting the view of Arabia as a biogeographical crossroads between these two regions. Monomorium floricola (Jerdon), the sole species of Indomalayan origin, is recorded for the first time from the Arabian Peninsula.