Formica approximans WHEELER, 1933

Formica truncorum var. approximans WHEELER, 1933 [type investigation]

The taxon was described from Eastern Tomb / China. Investigated were six worker syntypes from MCZ Harvard, labelled “Eastern Tomb July 16, 30 Chi Ho”, “Gift of W.M.Wheeler ”, “ M.C.Z. CoType 1.-6 21720”, and “ Syntypes Formica truncorum var. approximans Wheeler ” (upper side) “S P Cover IX-2006 ” (underside). The specimens fully correspond to the East Palaearctic population of F. truncorum . For a more detailed argumentation in favor of this synonymization, see below under taxonomic comments.