Lasius flavoniger Seifert 1992

Seifert, Bernhard, 2020, A taxonomic revision of the Palaearctic members of the subgenus Lasius s. str. (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), Soil Organisms 92 (1), pp. 15-86 : 66-67

4.4.33 Lasius flavoniger Seifert 1992

Lasius flavoniger Seifert 1992 [type investigation]

Type material: Lectotype (2nd specimen, by present designation) and two paralectotype workers on the same pin labelled ” TURKEY:S.Coastlands.Sogukolok. C. Kosswig. B.M.1948-400.“; depository: SMN Görlitz.

All material examined. A total of 2 samples with 6 workers from Turkey were subject to NUMOBAT investigation.

Geographic range. Known so far from only two sites in SE Turkey: Sogukoluk (37.52°N, 27.92°E, 500 m) and from 5 km S of Altinözu (36.08°N, 36.25°E, 350 m).

Diagnosis (Tab. 5, Figs. 63 –64; key; images in www. AntWeb.org with specimen identifiers CASENT0903218 and FOCOL0748):

Absolute size rather small (CS 872 µm). Head length rather large (CL/CW 900 1.082); scape long (SL/CS 900 1.002); postocular distance rather small (PoOc/CL 900 0.228); torulo-clypeal distance medium rather large (dClAn 900 4.71); eye size small (EYE/CS 900 0.229); terminal segment of maxillary palp moderately long (MP6/CS 900 0.196). Number of mandibular dents medium (MaDe 900 8.00). Pubescence on clypeus very sparse (sqPDCL 900 5.52); frontal pubescence, in contrast, rather dense and long (PLF 900 35.2). All surfaces of head and mesosoma with numerous standing setae of medium to large length (PnHL/CS 900 0.160, GuHL/CS 900 0.128, nGu 900 10.5, nOcc 900 19.1, nGen 900 10.2, nSt 900 6.6). Dorsum of scape with a number of subdecumbent to suberect setae (nSc 900 10.4), flexor profile of hind tibia with more numerous erect to suberect setae (nHT 900 24.7). Coloration: Head and gaster yellowish brown, remaining body parts yellowish.

Biology. The sample from near Altinözu was collected from an orchard meadow 10 June 1993 with alates in the nest.

Comments. L. flavoniger is well separable from L. flavescens by a much longer and more flattened scape, a longer terminal segment of maxillary palp, and a larger torulo-clypeal distance. The main differences to L. schulzi are the much more numerous setae on scape, tibiae and genae and the rougher pubescence.

Figures

Figs. 63 and 64: Lasius flavoniger; paratype, CASENT0903218, photo W.Ericson