Phylogeny, evolution, and classification of the ant genus Lasius, the tribe Lasiini and the subfamily Formicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Author Boudinot, Brendon E. Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis CA, U. S. A. & Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Institut für Spezielle Zoologie, Jena, Germany Author Borowiec, Marek L. Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis CA, U. S. A. & Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow ID, U. S. A. & Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, Moscow ID, U. S. A. Author Prebus, Matthew M. Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis CA, U. S. A. & School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe AZ, U. S. A. mprebus@gmail.com text Systematic Entomology 2022 2022-01-10 47 113 151 journal article 20773 10.1111/syen.12522 564eaad8-6245-4f42-9a88-42b97bf30807 5975346 3. Species group of niger ( L . s. str. Part 2/3) ( Figs 8C , 9C ) Constituent species (50), subspecies (1): Holarctic (1): niger * [e]; Nearctic (5): americanus [e], crypticus Wilson [e], neoniger Emery [e], sitiens Wilson [e], xerophilus Mackay and Mackay [e]; Palaearctic (45, 1): alienus [e], balearicus Talavera et al. [], bombycina Seifert and Galkowski. [e], casevitzi Seifert and Galkowski [e], chinensis Seifert [e], cinereus Seifert [e], coloratus Santschi [e], creticus Seifert [e], cyperus Seifert [e], emarginatus (Olivier) [e], flavescens Forel [e], flavoniger Seifert [e], grandis Forel [e], hayashi Yamauchi and Hayashida [e], hikosanus Yamauchi [], hirsutus Seifert [], illyricus Zimmermann [e], japonicus Santschi [e], kabaki Seifert [e], karpinisi Seifert [e], koreanus Seifert [e], kritikos Seifert [e], lawarai Seifert [e], longipalpus Seifert [e], magnus Seifert [e], maltaeus Seifert [e], mauretanicus Seifert [e], niger pinetorum Ruzsky [], nigrescens Stitz [e], obscuratus Stitz [e], paralienus Seifert [e], persicus Seifert [e], piliferus Seifert [e], platythorax Seifert [e], productus Wilson [e], psammophilus Seifert [e], sakagamii Yamauchi and Hayashida [e], schaeferi Seifert [e], schulzi Seifert [e], sichuense Seifert [e], tebessae Seifert [e], tunisius Seifert [e], uzbeki Seifert [e], vostochni Seifert [e], wittmeri Seifert [e]. Distribution : Holarctic. Identification : Within the niger clade, differing from the fuliginosus group similarly to the brunneus group (above); otherwise, apparently without strong or consistent differentiating conditions relative to the brunneus group ( Seifert, 2020 ). Roughly differing from the brunneus group in the combination of mandibles with ≥8 teeth on average within a colony plus scape and outer surface of metatibia with > 8 total standing setae. Only L. niger is truly Holarctic ( Schär et al. , 2018 ); Nearctic and Palaearctic species are otherwise identifiable via Wilson (1955) and Seifert (2020) , respectively, although more work is necessary for the American fauna. Note 1. Our molecular sample for L. nr. americanus represents an undescribed species. Note 2. Within the niger species group as circumscribed here, Seifert (2020) recognizes two morphometrically diagnosable complexes: that of obscuratus comprises criticus , obscuratus , piliferus , and psammophilus , while that of paralienus comprises bombycina , casevitzi , kritikos , and paralienus . Note 3. The differentiating features relative to the brunneus group above are intended to be heuristic. See the key in Seifert (2020) for formal identification of niger group species. 4. Species incertae sedis in the clade of niger Species (1): brevipalpus [e]. Note : The species L. brevipalpus was described by Seifert (2020) who remarked that its relationship to other ‘sensu stricto’ Lasius is uncertain due to a unique character combination, at least within the Asian fauna. We confirm placement of this species in the niger clade.