Formica anatolica

Formica anatolica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Formicini
Genus:	Formica
Species:	F. anatolica
Binomial name
Formica anatolica Seifert & Schultz, 2009

This species has been found in woodland stands with Abies, Juniperus, Quercus and other deciduous tree species, occasionally interspersed with grassland patches (Seifert and Schultz 2009).

Identification

Seifert and Schultz (2009) - A member of the Formica rufibarbis group. Well separable from any other Palaearctic species. Its distinction from the other two setose species, Formica rufibarbis and Formica tarimica, is stated under the identification sections of these other species. The short head, short scape, large eye and pilosity on underside of head suggest certain affinities to the Formica cinerea group but the very wide petiole scale and overall pilosity pattern indicate an allocation to the Formica rufibarbis group.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Formica rufibarbis group

Distribution

Seifert and Schultz (2009) - Known from south-central Anatolia in the region of the Taurus Mountains (Toros Daglari). Occurring there at elevations between 1300 and 1900 m.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 38.217° to 37.1°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: Türkiye (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.

Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.

Castes

Worker

Images from AntWeb

Holotype of Formica anatolica. Worker. Specimen code antweb1008386. Photographer Roland Schultz, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by SMNG, Görlitz, Germany.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

• anatolica. Formica anatolica Seifert & Schultz, 2009: 267, fig. 8 (w.) TURKEY.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Large Serviformica species (CS 1.401 mm), head and scape significantly shorter than in F. rufibarbis (CL / CW1.4 1.110, SL / CS1.4 1.031) and eye distinctly larger (EYE / CS1.4 0.303). Petiole very wide (PEW / CS1.4 0.484). Clypeus with sharp median keel and fine longitudinal microcarinulae. Frontal triangle finely transversely rippled and with 55 - 80 short pubescence hairs. Eyes with microsetae of 8 - 10 μm maximum length. Total mean of unilateral setae numbers on different body parts predicted for a specimen with CS = 1.4 mm: pronotum 8.9, mesonotum 4.2, propodeum plus dorsolateral metapleuron 0.1, petiole dorsal of spiracle 0.8, flexor profile of hind tibia 1.4, underside of head 1.6 (only species of the F. rufibarbis group usually having gular setae). Posterior margin of head normally without setae. Ventral coxae and gaster tergites with long setae. Dorsal mesonotum in profile broadly convex. Metanotal depression rather deep. Propodeal dome in profile obtuse-angled or rounded, the basal profile sometimes linear or slightly concave. Dorsal crest of petiole in frontal view rounded, sometimes (especially in larger specimens) with a straight or slightly excavated median portion. Petiole scale in lateral aspect thin, with convex anterior and more straight posterior profile. Gaster with transverse microripples of small distance (RipD 4.6 μm) and covered by dense silvery pubescence (sqPDG 3.4). Pubescence on head, mesosoma and petiole dense. Posterior vertex, often dorsal promesonotum, coxae and all appendages dark brown, gaster always dark brown. Other body parts reddish. In overall impression, this species appears relatively dark with remarkable contrasts between brown and reddish parts, especially on genae.

Type Material

Holotype worker plus 4 worker paratypes labelled “TUR: 37.348°N, 34.360°E Halkapinar-32 rkm SE, Aydos Dagi 1600-1800 m, A.Schulz 1997.05.08-214” and “Holotype Formica anatolica Seifert & Schultz” / “Paratype Formica anatolica Seifert & Schultz”; SMN Görlitz.

Etymology

From the distribution in Anatolia.

References

• Seifert, B. and R. Schultz. 2009b. A taxonomic revision of the Formica rufibarbis Fabricius, 1793 group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecologische Nachrichten. 12:255-272.
• Borowiec, L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
• Karaman, C., Kiran, K. 2022. Additional records of parasitic Camponotus Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) species from Turkey with queen description of Camponotus ruseni Karaman, 2012. Zoology in the Middle East 68(2), 156–164 (doi:10.1080/09397140.2022.2051918).
• Kiran, K., Karaman, C. 2020. Additions to the ant fauna of Turkey (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Zoosystema 42(18), 285-329 (doi:10.5252/zoosystema2020v42a18).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Seifert B., and R. Schultz. 2009. A taxonomic revision of the Formica rufibarbis Fabricius, 1793 group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecological News 12:255-272.