Lasius schaeferi 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 : 75-76

4.4.49 Lasius schaeferi Seifert 1992

Lasius schaeferi Seifert 1992 [type specimens]

Type material: holotype plus 4 paratype workers labelled ”II. Dolan Expedition Westchina/ Tibet leg. E. Schäfer, 1934/36“, ”131“; depository: NHM Basel.

All material examined. Only the type series is known.

Geographic range. The label ”131“ refers to station 131 of Ernst Schäfer‘s expedition route which is situated at approximately 33.60°N, 96.58°E and 3900 m and was reached 4 August 1935.

Diagnosis ( Tab. 9 , Figs.93 –94; images in www.antWeb. org with specimen identifier CASENT0912296; key): The most similar species among the Himalayan-Tibetan species is Lasius obscuratus . L. schaeferi differs from the latter in particular by much more numerous setae on hind tibia (nHT 900 12.7 vs. 2.8) which also occur on the distal half of extensor profile. The best separation from the Himalayan species L. lawarai and L. wittmeri , which show similar shape and setae data, is given by the shorter frontal pubescence (PLF 900 29.6 µm; in L. lawarai and L. wittmeri 36.1 and 38.8 µm respectively) and the presence of very distinct erect to suberect setae on hind tibia, the morphology of which differs clearly from the neighboring appressed pubescence hairs. This clear differentiation between setae and pubescence is lost in L. lawarai and L. wittmeri where we observe unclear thickness differences between elongated semierect pubescence hairs and semierect setae. Coloration: Head and mesosoma yellowish-brown, gaster in three specimens yellow, in one specimen yellowish brown.

Biology. Unknown. According to the geographic data of the type locality, it is possible that L. schaeferi lives under the harshest climatic conditions of all Lasius s. str. species worldwide.

Comments. Most probably belonging to Lasius obscuratus species complex.

Figures

Figs. 93 and 94: Lasius schaeferi; holotype, CASENT0912296, photo Z. Lieberman