A checklist of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in northern Shaanxi Province,China, with one new species of genus Proformica Ruzsky, 1902

A preliminary checklist of the ants of northern Shaanxi is presented based on an evaluation from June 2018 to September 2020. Seven species are reported from Shaanxi for the first time: Formica approximans Wheeler, 1933; Formica clara Forel, 1886; Messor aralocaspius (Ruzsky, 1902); Plagiolepis pygmaea (Latreille, 1798); Tapinoma rectinotum Wheeler, 1927; Tetramorium chefketi Forel, 1911; Tetramorium tsushimae Emery, 1925 and Temnothorax ruginosus Zhou, Huang, Yu & Liu, 2010. A new species of genus Proformica Ruzsky, 1902, Proformica muusensis sp. nov., is described based on the morphology and molecular method. In total, three subfamilies with 34 valid ant species in 15 genera are reported in our checklist.     

Review of the Genus Myrmica in Korea (Hymenptera: Formicidae)

The paper contains a taxonomie review of 12 species of the genus Myrmica occurring in Korea. The following species are under discussion: M. angulinodis Ruzsky, M. carinata Kupyanskaya, M. hyungokae Elmes, M. jessensis Forel, M. kasczenkoi Ruzsky, M. kotokui Forel, M. koreana Elmes, M kurokii Forel, M. lobicornis Nylander, M. ruginodis Nylander, M silvestrii Wheeler, M. sulcinodis Nylander. Twelve species of the genus Myrmica are recognized from Korea, these are revised and a key to their identification is provided. Five species, M. cadusa, M. incurvata, M. saphoshikovi, M. scabrinodis, and M. yoshiokai are questionable to be distributed in Korea, as I have not found any specimens preserved in Korea. The SEM photo and illustrations of the worker of each species are provided.     

A revision of the ant genus Mystrium in the Malagasy region with description of six new species and remarks on Amblyopone and Stigmatomma (Hymenoptera,Formicidae, Amblyoponinae)

The genus Mystrium is revised for the Malagasy region. Six species, Mystrium barrybressleri sp. n., Mystrium labyrinth sp. n., Mystrium eques sp. n., Mystrium mirror sp. n., Mystrium shadow sp. n., and Mystrium janovitzi sp. n. are described as new. Two existing names, Mystrium fallax Forel and Mystrium stadelmanni Forel, are synonymized with Mystrium voeltzkowi Forel and Mystrium mysticum Roger, respectively. All recognized species, including species outside of the Malagasy region, are assigned to one of the three newly proposed species groups. The associations between existing names and males are reexamined, and males of eight of the ten Malagasy species are described or redescribed. The taxonomic history of Mystrium highlights the importance of using unique identifiers when designating type specimens and the use of deposited vouchers in phylogenetic and ecological studies. Keys to species for workers, queens, and males are provided. Furthermore, a neotype for Mystrium mysticum is designated, as well as lectotypes for Mystrium camillae Emery, Mystrium rogeri Forel, Mystrium fallax Forel, Mystrium oberthueri Forel, Mystrium stadelmanni Forel, and Mystrium voeltzkowi Forel. Stigmatomma gingivale (Brown) is reassigned to Amblyopone as comb. rev. and Amblyopone awa Xu & Chu, Amblyopone kangba Xu & Chu, Amblyopone meiliana Xu & Chu, and Amblyopone zomae Xu & Chu are transferred to the genus Stigmatomma as comb. n.     

The ant genus Aenictus from Laos,with description of a new species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Aenictinae)

Ants of the genus Aenictus are recorded from Laos for the first time. Here, we report six species including a new species and a new status: Aenictus binghami Forel, A. cf. dentatus Forel, A. doydeei Jaitrong et Yamane, sp. nov., A. cf. fuchuanensis Zhou, A. hodgsoni Forel, stat. nov., and A. nishimurai Terayama et Kubota. A. doydeei sp. nov. is very probably a nocturnal species.     

Monomorium ant's trail pheromones: Glandular source,optimal concentration,longevity and specificity

Many ants use pheromone trails to organize collective foraging. Trail pheromones are produced from different glandular sources and they may be specific to a single species or shared by a number of species. I investigated the source of trail pheromones in three Monomorium ant species: Monomorium niloticum (Emery), M. najrane (Collingwood & Agosti) and M. mayri (Forel). I also examined the optimal concentration, longevity and specificity of the pheromones. M. niloticum and M. najrane secrete trail pheromone from their venom glands, whereas M. mayri secrete trail pheromone from its Dufour's gland. The optimum concentration was 1.0 and 0.1 gaster equivalent (GE)/30 cm trail in M. niloticum, 1.0 GE in M. najrane and 5.0 GE in M. mayri. Longevity of the optimal concentration was about one day for all species. There is no species specificity among the three species of Monomorium in their trail pheromone.     

Contributions to the systematics of the genus Microsiphum (homoptera, aphididae)

Microsiphum Cholodkovsky (Macrosiphini) is a small genus comprising 11 species and subspecies distributed in the Palaearctic Region. After examination of the collection of the Institute of Zoology (Kazakhstan), Microsiphum diversisetosum sp. n. from Artemisia abrotanum (northern and western Kazakhstan) is described. New synonymies are established: M. nudum Holman, 1961 = M. minus Bozhko, 1963, syn. n., M. ptarmicae Cholodkovsky, 1902 = M. heptapotamicum Kadyrbekov, 2000, syn. n. The taxonomic rank of M. procerae subalpicum Mamontova, 1982 stat. n. and M. jazykovi wahlgreni Hille Ris Lambers, 1947 stat. n. is changed. A key to the known taxa of the genus Microsiphum is given.     

Diversity and paleoenvironmental significance of Middle Triassic ostracods (Crustacea) from northern Thailand: Pha Kan Formation (Anisian,Lampang Group)

The Pha Kan Formation that crops out at the Phra That Muang Kham section, south of Lampang city, was measured and sampled for ostracod analysis. We here report the occurrence of 29 species distributed among 14 genera. Four new species are described: Triassocypris phakanella Forel nov. sp., Leviella lampangensis Forel nov. sp., Bektasia yawella Forel nov. sp. and Hungarella poli Chitnarin nov. sp. The present data represent the first detailed report of Middle Triassic (Anisian) ostracods from the Sukhothai terrane and the first insight into diversity dynamics following the end-Permian extinction in this area. The ostracod assemblages of the Phra That Muang Kham section are discussed and document an important shift from siliciclastic to carbonate conditions, from a protected to an open marine environment, followed by a slight regressive trend up-section associated with repeated salinity fluctuations. This fauna illustrates the post-crisis recovery during the Middle Triassic and some hypothesis are issued on the distribution pathways of several taxa.     

A preliminary checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera,?Formicidae) of Andorra

Within the last decade, checklists of the ant fauna of several European countries have been published or updated. Nevertheless, no ant checklists have hitherto been published for the principality of Andorra, a small landlocked country located in the eastern part of the Pyrenees. This work presents a critical list of the ant species of Andorra based on a review of the literature and on the biological material we collected during several field campaigns conducted in Andorra since the year 2005. Seventy-five species belonging to 21 genera of Formicidae were recorded. Nine species were recorded for the first time in Andorra: Aphaenogaster gibbosa (Latreille, 1798), Camponotus lateralis (Olivier, 1792), Camponotus piceus (Leach, 1825), Formica exsecta Nylander, 1846, Lasius piliferus Seifert, 1992, Tapinoma madeirense Forel, 1895, Temnothorax lichtensteini (Bondroit, 1918), Temnothorax niger (Forel, 1894), Temnothorax nigriceps (Mayr, 1855). The most speciose genera were Formica Linnaeus, 1758 and Temnothorax Forel, 1890 with 14 and 12 species, respectively. The ant fauna of Andorra is mostly dominated by Central European species (some are typical cold climate specialists); however species belonging to the Mediterranean ant fauna were also found. This can be explained by the particular geographic situation of Andorra which is characterized by a high mountain Mediterranean climate.     

A Review of the Ant Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dolichoderus</Emphasis> Lund, 1831 (Hymenoptera,Formicidae: Dolichoderinae) of Mexico

Mexican ants of the genus Dolichoderus are revised. Five species of the genus are recorded: D. bispinosus (Olivier, 1792), D. diversus Emery, 1894, D. lutosus (Smith, 1858), D. mariae Forel, 1885 and D. plagiatus (Mayr, 1870). Dolichoderus tridentanodus Ortega-De Santiago et Vásquez-Bolaños, 2012 is synonymized with Camponotus mucronatus Emery, 1890. Early records of D. germaini Emery, 1894 and D. lugens Emery, 1894 from Mexico are misidentifications and those species are excluded from the list of the Mexican fauna. Dolichoderus mariae Forel, 1885 is newly reported for the fauna of Mexico. Identification key to Mexican Dolichoderus species is given.     

Taxonomy and distribution of termite fauna (Isoptera) in Riyadh Province,the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,with an updated list of termite species on the Arabian Peninsula

The present study shows an updated synoptic list of the 30 known Isoptera of the Arabian Peninsula which are classified under four families and nine genera. Twenty-seven species are hitherto known from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The present inventory of the termites of Riyadh Province (KSA) indicated three species, Anacanthotermes ochraceous (Burmeister 1839), Psammotermes hypostoma Desneux, 1902 and a rare species, Coptotermes heimi (Wasmann 1902). We present an illustrated key to species based on the soldier caste. Anacanthotermes ochraceous, and P. hypostoma are widely distributed Palearctic species whereas C. heimi seems rare and is a new record for KSA. Distribution maps for the three species are provided based on recently collected material and literature records and remarks on species habitat preference are given.     

The apparent establishment and subsequent eradication of the Australian giant bulldog ant Myrmecia brevinoda Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in New Zealand

Abstract

The Australian giant bulldog ant Myrmecia brevinoda Forel was first observed in New Zealand in 1940 (Keall 1981). Further observations of this species were made at a location in Devonport in 1948 and 1965, and a nest destroyed at this site in 1981. Since this time no further observations have been made, yet the status of this species is commonly listed as “uncertain establishment” on New Zealand faunal lists. We describe the control procedure used in 1981. In addition, to determine its current status we resurveyed ants in the area of earlier infestation using visual searches, pitfall trapping, and a reward for discovery posted to local residents. No evidence of M. brevinoda was found, though several other invasive species were found, including the Argentine ant Linepithema humile (Mayr), Pheidole rugosula Forel, and a recently established Australian cryptic Solenopsis species. Given the results of our survey and the absence of other reports of M. brevinoda over the last 24 years, we consider this species to be extinct or eradicated from New Zealand.     

Temnothorax pilagens sp. n. – a new slave-making species of the tribe Formicoxenini from North America (Hymenoptera,Formicidae)

A new species of the ant genus Temnothorax Forel, 1890 – Temnothorax pilagens sp. n. is described from eastern North America. T. pilagens sp. n. is an obligate slave-making ant with two known hosts: T. longispinosus (Roger, 1863) and T. ambiguus (Emery, 1895). A differential diagnosis against Temnothorax duloticus (Wesson, 1937), the other dulotic congener from the Nearctic, is presented and a biological characteristics of the new species is given.     

Taxonomic studies on the ant genus Cerapachys Smith (Hymenoptera,Formicidae) from India

The Indianspeciesof the ant genus Cerapachys Smith are keyed. Twelve species are recognized of which 6 are described as new. The species are: Cerapachys aitkenii Forel, Cerapachys alii sp. n., Cerapachys anokha sp. n., Cerapachys besucheti Brown, Cerapachys biroi Forel, Cerapachys indicus Brown, Cerapachys longitarsus (Mayr), Cerapachys nayana sp. n., Cerapachys schoedli sp. n., Cerapachys seema sp. n., Cerapachys sulcinodis Emery and Cerapachys wighti sp. n. Geographic distribution and group affinities of the new species are discussed. A revised key to the Indian species is provided. The rare ergatoid queens of Cerapachys nayana, Cerapachys schoedli and Cerapachys seema are reported. Formed in response to selective pressures these ergatoid queens have a significant role in dispersal strategies and contribute much to our understanding of the biology of these ants.     

Introduced Pheidole of the world: taxonomy,biology and distribution

The objective of this study is to provide a detailed taxonomic resource for identifying and studying ants in the genus Pheidole that have established beyond their native ranges. There is an increasing need for systematists to study taxa of specific concern to 21^st century environmental, food security and public health challenges. Systematics has an important role to play in both the theoretical and applied disciplines of invasion biology. Few invaders impact terrestrial ecosystems more than ants. Among the world’s 100 worst invasive species is the cosmopolitan and highly destructive Pheidole megacephala (Fabricius). Accurate identification of Pheidole megacephala is imperative for the success of screening, management and eradication programs designed to protect native ecosystems from the impacts of this destructive species. However, accurate identification of Pheidole species is difficult because of their taxonomic diversity, dimorphic worker caste and lack of taxonomic resources. Illustrated keys are included, along with the taxonomic history, taxonomic diagnoses, biological notes and risk statements for the 14 most invasive members of the genus. Global distribution maps based on over 14,000 specimen and literature records are presented for each species. These results of this work will facilitate identification of pest species, determination of climatic and habitat requirements, discovery of pest origins, horizon scanning and assessment of invasion pathways. The following new synonym is proposed, with the senior synonym listed first and the junior synonyms in parentheses: Pheidole indica Mayr (= Pheidole teneriffana Forel, and its synonyms Pheidole taina Aguayo and Pheidole voeltzkowii Forel). Pheidole navigans Forel, stat. rev., stat. n. is removed from synonymy and elevated to species rank. It is proposed that records of Pheidole moerens Forel outside of the Mesoamerica and the Caribbean refer instead to Pheidole navigans or other heterospecific taxa in the Pheidole flavens species complex. We propose that the names Pheidole anastasii Emery and Pheidole floridana Emery have been widely misapplied to North American outdoor records of Pheidole bilimeki Mayr. It is suggested that the synonymy of Pheidole lauta Wheeler be transferred from Pheidole floridana Emery to Pheidole bilimeki Mayr.     

Description and DNA barcoding of Crematogaster fraxatrix Forel, 1911 and two new closely related species from Cambodia and Indonesia (Hymenoptera,Formicidae)

Crematogaster fraxatrix Forel, 1911 and two new species, C. chhangi sp. n. and C. simboloni sp. n., are described from Cambodia and Indonesia, respectively. DNA sequences were generated for C. fraxarix and the two newly described species using 3 amplications of two regions of the mitochondrial gene COI with a total of 1129 bp. The mean interspecific divergences are 9.4% and 23.5% for C. fraxatrix vs. C. chhangi, C. simboloni, respectively. DNA sequences reveal that C. simboloni is found to be genetically distinct from the other two species, but C. chhangi is not distinct from C. fraxatrix.