Wiesława Czechowska

First records of Myrmica vandeli Bondroit and M. tulinae Elmes, Radchenko et Aktaç (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) for Poland, with a key for the scabrinodis- and sabuleti-complexes

The first records from Poland of Myrmica vandeliand the recently described M. tulinae, both belonging to the scabrinodis-group,are reported. These species are poorly recorded and may be less rare than hitherto supposed. The current knowledge of their distributions and ecologies are summarised. The characteristic morphological features of the two species are illustrated and a key for separating them from their closest relatives in Poland is given.

Further record of Lasius neglectus Van Loon, Boomsma et Andrasfalvy [Hymenoptera: Formicidae] for Warsaw, with a key to the Polish species of the subgenus Lasius s.str.

Three new sites of Lasius neglectus, an expansive invasive polygynous and polydomous ant species, are reported from Warsaw, its northern most known locality. A key to the Polish representatives of the subgenus Lasius s.str. is given.

Myrmica lacustris Ruzsky (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), an ant species new for Poland

A rare and poorly known ant species, Myrmica lacustris Ruzsky, belonging to the schencki-group, isreported from Poland for the first time. The taxonomic history of the name and current knowledge of the distribution and ecology of this species are summarised. The characteristic morphological features of M. lacustris are illustratedand a key for separating this taxon from the two morphologically similar species is given.

Succession of Lasius s. str. ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in moist pine forests – reassessment after taxonomic revisions of the subgenus

Czechowski et al. (1995) described the structure and structuring of ant assemblages along a successionalgradient of moist pine forests (Peucedano-Pinetum and Leucobryo-Pinetum) in Poland. That paper did not take into account two systematic revisions where two common and abundant Lasius s. str. species, namely, L. niger (L.) and L. alienus (Forst.), were split into two and three species respectively (Seifert 1991, 1992). In the light of the revised taxonomy and the present work, the former L. niger, in fact, included two sibling species: L. platythorax Seifert and L. niger, and the former L. alienus appeared to be L. psammophilus Seifert. In the present paper, the occurrence and abundances (nest densities) of these Lasius s. str. species in the successional habitats of the moist pine forests are reassessed according to the present taxonomic knowledge. The pioneer nature of L. platythorax in forest habitats is stressed.

Lasius niger (L.) and Lasius platythorax Seifert (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) - a revolution in Polish myrmecological faunistics and zoocoenology?

Data are presented on the distribution, in Poland, of Lasius niger (L.) and L. platythorax SEIFERT (the latter as a species new to Poland). These data were obtained from an inspection of the ant collection in the Museum and Institute of Zoology, PAS in Warsaw. It is confirmed that SEIFERT (1991) was correct when he separated the originally collective taxon «Lasius niger» into the above-mentioned sibling species. A simplified key for distinguishing these forms is provided.

Strikingly malformed host morphology: Myrmica rugulosa Nyl. and Myrmica sabuleti Mein. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) parasitised by mermithid nematodes

A bstrac t: Mermithid nematode infestation o f M yrm ica rugulosa Nyl. and M . sabuleti Mein, is reported, and parasitogenic morphological anomalies o f these two ant species are described for the first time. Two infected M. rugulosa males and a female worker-like individual o f M . sabuleti were found outside their nests in the Pieniny Mts (southern Poland). The latter individual was recognised belonging to the gynaecoid mermithergate parasitogenic category caused by the mermithid parasitism. Mermithogenic malformation o f the infected M . sabuleti female is discussed in the context o f its developmental origin. Emphasis is also placed on possible taxonomic difficulties in the determination o f M yrm ica Latr. specimens infected by the mermithids as well as the risk o f erroneous descriptions o f taxa based on such parasitogenic forms.

Myrmica microrubra SEIFERT, 1993 [Hymenoptera, Formicidae] - an inquiline ant species new to Poland

Myrmica microrubra SEIFERT, a social parasite of Myrmica rubra (L.), is first reported from Poland based on two colonies and a common mating place of these two species found in 1999 in the Krakowsko-Wielunska Uplands. The detailed composition of one of the mixed colonies is given.

Myrmica karavajevi (Arn.) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Poland: a species not as rare as it is thought to be?

The ant Myrmica karavajevi is an extremely rarely found and poorly known workerless social parasite of ants of the Myrmica scabrinodis species group. Hereafter detailed information of its previously published findings from four geographical regions in Poland (Bieszczady Mts, Pieniny Mts, Pomeranian Lakeland and Mazovian Lowland) as well as data on three new records from the Roztocze Upland, Lubelska Upland and Krakowsko- Czestochowska Upland is given. The latter suggests higher than hitherto suspected degree of host species infestation by M. karavajevi. Use of M. rugulosa as a host by M. karavajevi is also discussed.

Epimyrma ravouxi (André, 1896) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in the Pieniny Mts - notes on its occurrence and biology.

Data are presented on the occurrence of Epimyrma ravouxi (ANDRE) in the Pieniny Mts (Western Carpathians), the only known locality of this dulotic ant species in Poland. The composition of mixed colo-nies of the social parasite with its host species [Leptothorax unifasciatus (LATR.), L.albipennis CURTIS and L. nadigi KUTTER)] found there is given.

Myrmica vandeli Bondr. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Pieniny Mountains - the second record of this species for Poland

The second record of Myrmica vandeli Bondr. for Poland is reported, and the current knowledge of its distribution is summarised. This poorly recorded ant species may be less rare than hitherto supposed. Its six colonies were found in the Pieniny Mts (southern Poland) in a marsh-meadow. Originally (in Czechowska 1976), they were erroneously determined as M. scabrinodis Nyl.