Sebastian Salata

What is Tetramoriumsemilaeve Andre, 1883? (Hymenoptera, Formicidae).

Abstract Tetramorium semilaeve André, 1883 is redescribed based on the type series and new material from terra typica (Pyrénées-Orientales). Lectotype worker is designated. Detailed descriptions of gyne and male are given. A review of material from the Mediterranean area suggests that in the past the name Tetramorium semilaeve has been applied to more than one species and the true Tetramorium semilaeve is common only in the western part of the Mediterranean basin. The structure of the male genitalia is the most reliable set of characters allowing a proper distinction of species in Tetramorium semilaeve species group. All names attributed to the former name “semilaeve” are discussed.

Redescription of Temnothorax antigoni (Forel, 1911) and description of its new social parasite Temnothorax curtisetosus sp. n. from Turkey (Hymenoptera, Formicidae).

Abstract Temnothorax antigoni (Forel, 1911) is redescribed basing on a new material from southwestern Turkey (Antalya province), Lesbos and Rhodes (Greece, Aegean and Dodecanese islands). The gyne of this species is described for the first time. Temnothorax curtisetosus, a new species of social parasite collected in a nest of Temnothorax antigoni, is described. Colour photos of both taxa are given. A key to the worker caste of the eastern Mediterranean species belonging to both Temnothorax recedens and Temnothorax muellerianus groups are provided.

Ants of the Peloponnese, Greece (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract This paper relates to material obtained during two field trips to the Peloponnese in 2013 and 2016. With the inclusion of some hitherto unpublished ant material, it gives new records from a total of 92 sampling localities. 129 species (including morphospecies not attributed to any known taxon) of ants have been recorded from the Peloponnese (southern Greece), 27 of which have been recorded from this region for the first time. Lasius reginae and 5 other morphospecies attributed only to species complexes are new to Greece.

Species of Tetramorium semilaeve Complex from Balkans and Western Turkey, with Description of Two New Species of (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae)

Abstract. Tetramorium galaticum Menozzi, 1936, new status and Tetramorium hippocratis Agosti & Collingwood, 1987, members of Tetramorium semilaeve complex, are redescribed based on new materials from Greece and western Turkey. Detailed description of gyne and male is given for the first time. Two new species of this complex with all castes are described: Tetramorium kephalosi (Greece and Croatia) and Tetramorium bellerophoni (Turkey). Differential diagnoses from T. semilaeve, colour photos of all castes and male genitalia are given.

Redescription of Tetramorium atlante Cagniant, 1970, New Status (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae)

Abstract. Tetramorium atlante Cagniant, 1970, new status, a member of Tetramorium semilaeve complex is redescribed based on new material from northern Morocco. Detailed descriptions of gyne and male are given for the first time. Diagnosis differentiating this species from T. semilaeve is given, along with colour photographs of all castes and male genitalia.

Redescription of Crematogastercypria Santschi, 1930, new status, with description of two new related species from Greece and Turkey (Hymenoptera, Formicidae).

Abstract Crematogaster (Crematogaster) jehovae var. cypria Santschi, 1930 is raised to species rank. Two new, related species are described from the north-eastern part of the Mediterranean Basin: Crematogaster (Crematogaster) erectepilosa sp. n. (Dodecanese, Greece) and Crematogaster (Crematogaster) gullukdagensis sp. n. (Antalya Prov., Turkey). These three species are well distinguished from other species of the subgenus Crematogaster of the north-eastern part of the Mediterranean Basin in their first gastral tergite bearing numerous erect setae. Colour photographs of all taxa are provided, a key to the species of Crematogaster cypria group and species groups of the Crematogaster s. str. from the north-eastern Mediterranean region are given and a list of Crematogaster s. str. described from this region is provided (see Appendix).

A new species of the ant genus Lasius Fabricius, 1804 from Crete (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Abstract Lasiustapinomoidessp. n. from Crete, Greece, is described and illustrated. It belongs to L.turcicus complex and is well characterized by very small body, extremely shallow metanotal groove and presence of suberect to erect setae on the apical part of scape. New records of Cretan members of the genus Lasius Fabricius, 1804 are provided, their checklist is updated, and the key to their determination is presented.

Ants from Thessaly, Greece (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract A complete list of 107 ant species (including morphospecies not attributed to any known taxon) recorded from Thessaly, Greece, is presented. New records from 40 sampling localities explored during two field trips in 2012 and 2017, and also from literature data are included. Temnothorax sordidulus (Müller, 1923) and Temnothorax tauricus (Ruzsky, 1902) are new to Greece; 38 species were recorded from Thessaly for the first time.

A new species of the Aphaenogaster cecconii group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Rhodes

Aphaenogaster charesi, a new species in the A. cecconii group, is described from two localities on the island of Rhodes. The recent revision of the group by Borowiec and Salata is updated with (1) a modified key to include this new species, (2) new locality and habitat data for A. jolantae Borowiec & Salata, 2014, and (3) corrected measurements for A. olympica Borowiec & Salata, 2014.

Survey of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Greek Thrace

The ant fauna of Greece has been an object of investigations for almost two centuries, but most of the contributions were restricted to particular parts or regions of the country. The first comprehensive checklist, comprising the past studies on Greek ants, was done only recently by Legakis (2011). In the last few years, the ant fauna of Greece was more intensively studied as part of the inventory of the ants of the Mediterranean region (Borowiec and Salata 2012, Borowiec and Salata 2013, Borowiec and Salata 2014b, Borowiec and Salata 2014a, Salata and Borowiec 2015a, Salata and Borowiec 2015b, Salata and Borowiec 2015c). Based on the above mentioned studies, it turned out that the Greek ant fauna is probably the richest in Europe, with about 280 recorded species including almost 20 endemic to this country. Among the geographic regions of Greece, Macedonia has richest ant fauna with at least 158 species recorded, followed by Dodecanese (111), Ionian Islands (107), East Aegean Islands (106), Peloponnese (102), Crete (98), Sterea Ellas (72), Thessaly (67), Cyclades (46), and Epirus (42) respectively (Borowiec & Salata unpublished data). The ants of Greek Thrace have been more or less neglected so far. This region has not been studied in recent years, while older data are very scarce. As a result, only 12 species were mentioned from this region (Legakis 2011). Greek Thrace (or Western Thrace) is one of the geographic and historical regions of Greece. It is the eastern-most mainland part of the country, bordered by Greek Macedonia to the west, Bulgaria to the north (the southern part of Bulgaria is also known as the Bulgarian or Northern Thrace), Turkish (or Eastern) Thrace to the east and the Aegean Sea to the south. Most of the northern part of Greek Thrace is occupied by the Rhodope Mountains. Larger plains are situated especially in the south-western, central and north-eastern part of the region. A Mediterranean climate prevails in the southern part of Thrace and is modified by continental influences in the Rhodope Mountains (Encyclopaedia Britannica 2015). To improve the knowledge on Thracian ants, we conducted two field trips, in spring 2014 and in summer 2015, and included some previously collected unpublished material. Altogether, we compiled the samples from more than 70 localities throughout the region. As a result we present a check-list of all ant species recorded so far in Greek Thrace with comments on the taxonomy and distribution of poorly known or unnamed species.