Crematogaster antaris Forel

Sharaf, Mostafa R., Aldawood, Abdulrahman S. & Garcia, Francisco Hita, 2019, Review of the Arabian Crematogaster Lund (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), synoptic list, distribution, and description of two new species from Oman and Saudi Arabia, ZooKeys 898, pp. 27-81 : 27

Crematogaster antaris Forel Figure 8 A–C

Taxonomic history.

Crematogaster (Acrocoelia) auberti r. antaris Forel, 1894b: 26 (w., q.) Algeria.

Combination in Crematogaster (Acrocoelia) : Emery 1922: 142; in Crematogaster ( Crematogaster) : Bolton 1995: 166.

Subspecies of C. inermis : Emery 1926: 2; Menozzi 1927: 379; of C. auberti : Emery 1924: 8; Finzi 1930: 15; Santschi 1938: 38; Cagniant 1964: 103.

Status as species: Santschi 1921: 71; Collingwood 1985: 260.

Crematogaster auberti var. sordida Forel, 1909: 104 (w.) Algeria. [First available use of Crematogaster auberti r. laestrygon var. sordida Forel, 1894: 26; unavailable name]. Combination in C. (Acrocoelia) : Emery 1922: 142.

Subspecies of C. antaris : Santschi 1921: 71. Junior synonym of C. antaris : Cagniant 2005: 11.

Material examined.

KSA: Riyadh, Al Mezahmyiah, 24.46633N, 46.25131E, 648 m, 29.xi.2014 (Salman S) (19 w, KSMA); Riyadh, Al Dawadmy, 24.55216N, 43.93170E, 873 m, 16.i.2015 (Salman S) (9 w, KSMA); Taif, Al Wesam district, 21.204722N, 40.345278E, 11.x.2010 (Al Dhafer et al.) (5 w, KSMA); Asir province, Ballasmer, A’l Azza, 18.60815N, 42.24628E, 2611 m, 27.iv.2019 (Sharaf MR) (2 w, KSMA); Asir province, Abha, Al Souda, 18.274167N, 42.364444E, 2982 m, 24.iv.2011 (Sharaf MR) (1 w, KSMA); Taif, Shafa of Shafa hwy, 21.139167N, 40.351389E, 12.x.2010 (Al Dhafer et al.) (8 w, KSMA); Altawil, 18.016667N, 42.95E, 21-22.ix.1984 (W. Buttiker) (1 w, WMLC); W. Harith, 17.4863N, 44.0825E, 28.ix.1978 (W. Buttiker) (1 w, WMLC); El Shoiba, 20.680084N, 39.523233E, 28.xii.1978 (W. Buttiker) (1 w, WMLC); Jeddah, 21.4858N, 39.1925E, 26.ii.1934 (G. L. Bates, B.M. 1934-404) (6 w, BMNH). Oman: Mintrib, 22.4248N, 58.8032E (M. D. Gallagher) (7 w, WMLC); Qarhat Mu’ammur, 21.666667N, 59.316667E, 22.iv.1986 (M. D. Gallagher) (1 w, 7691, WMLC); khabura (Al Khaburah), 23.9628N, 57.0957E, 10.iii.1980 (R. W. Whitcomb) (1 w, WMLC); Musandan, 26.03333N, 56.3E (3 w, WMLC); Mu’ammur, 1986 (W. Buttiker) (1 q, WMLC); Um Qashab, 27.iv.1986 (M. D. Gallagher) (2 w,7865, WMLC); 50-90 km E of Hayam, ii-iii.1993 (R.D. Schumann) (1 w, desert, in spirit tube, WMLC); Qarhat Mu’ammur, 21.666667N, 59.316667E, 135 m, 02.ii.1986 (W. Buttiker) (4 w in spirit tube, eastern sand project, dunes, WMLC); Khabura, 23.9628N, 57.0957E, 01.xii.1979 (R. W. Whitcomb) (6 w, BMNH); Rustaq, 23.387831782N, 57.421331648E, 07.v.1979 (R. W. Whitcomb) (11 w, BMNH); Khboura, 23.9628N, 57.0957E, 27.i.1980 (R. W. Whitcomb) (21 w, BMNH). Qatar: Umsaid Road, 09.iv.2005 (M. S. Abdel-Dayem) (10 w, KSMA); Al Kharara-Seleiyn Road, 09.iv.2005 (M. S. Abdel-Dayem) (13 w, KSMA). UAE: Ras Ghanada, vi.1995 (B. Tigar) (15 w in spirit tube, WMLC); Public Hunting Ground, 12.viii.1994 (B. Tigar) (13 w in spirit tube, 2360, WMLC); Al Ain Zoo, 24.1792N, 55.7396E, iv-v.1995 (B. Tigar) (7 w in spirit tube, WMLC); Sweihan, 24.4582N, 55.3324E, 04.iii.1995 (Collingwood CA) (25 w in spirit tube, stony desert, WMLC); Khour Al Taafirah, 17.2N, 42.35E, 10.x.1984 (W. Buttiker) (14 w in spirit tube, WMLC); Dubai city, 25.2048N, 55.2708E, 2002 (K. Valsan) (4 w, BMNH). Yemen: W. Aden Port, Jebel Jihaf, 04.x.1937 (H. Scott & E. B.Britton. B.M.1933-246) (9 w, B. M. Expedition to S.W. Arabia, BMNH); Summit of Jebel Kohl,15 miles N. of Sana’a, 01.ii.1938 (H. Scott & E. B. Britton. B.M.1933-246) (6 w, B.M. Expedition to S.W. Arabia, H. Scott & E. B. Britton, B.M.1933-246).

Geographic range.

Originally described from Algeria, C. antaris is also found in Morroco, Tunisia, Egypt, and Iran ( Sharaf 2006; Paknia et al. 2008; Vonshak and Ionescu-Hirsch 2009; Borowiec 2014; Guénard et al. 2017; Janicki et al. 2017). Its apparent absence in Libya is likely a sampling artifact. Crematogaster antaris is also broadly distributed in the Arabian Peninsula where it is known from Kuwait, Oman, the KSA, the UAE, and Yemen ( Collingwood 1985; Tigar and Collingwood 1993; Collingwood and Agosti 1996; Collingwood et al. 2011; Borowiec 2014; Sharaf et al. 2018) ( Fig. 9 ).

Remarks.

This is a very widespread and common species, which appears to be one of the most arid-adapted species within the genus. Our collections represent a new record for Qatar.

Figures

Figure 8. C. antaris A body in profile B body in dorsal view C head in full-face view, CASENT 0908473 (Will Ericson), www. AntWeb. org.

Figure 9. Distribution map of C. antaris.