Formica major

Formica major
Scientific classification (junior synonym of Formica polyctena)
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Formicini
Genus:	Formica
Species:	Formica major Nylander, 1849

This taxon is not in use as it is currently considered to be a junior synonym of Formica polyctena.

Nomenclature

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

• major. Formica major Nylander, 1849: 29 (w.) FINLAND. Junior synonym of rufa: Emery & Forel, 1879: 450. Revived from synonymy: Betrem, 1926: 213. Senior synonym of piniphila: Betrem, 1953: 325. Junior synonym of rufa: Yarrow, 1955a: 3; Betrem, 1960b: 76; Kutter, 1977c: 273; of polyctena: Radchenko, 2007: 37 (major is best regarded as a nomen oblitum, therefore polyctena takes priority).

References

• Betrem, J. G. 1926. De mierenfauna van Meijendel. Levende Nat. 31: 211-220 (page 213, Revived from synonymy)
• Betrem, J. G. 1953. Enkele opmerkingen omtrent de soorten van de Formica rufa-groep (Hym.). Entomol. Ber. (Amst.) 14: 322-326 (page 325, senior synonym of piniphila)
• Betrem, J. G. 1960b. Ueber die Systematik der Formica rufa-gruppe. Tijdschr. Entomol. 103: 51-81 (page 76, Junior synonym of rufa )
• Emery, C.; Forel, A. 1879. Catalogue des Formicides d'Europe. Mitt. Schweiz. Entomol. Ges. 5: 441-481 (page 450, Junior synonym of rufa)
• Kutter, H. 1977c. Hymenoptera, Formicidae. Insecta Helv. Fauna 6: 1-298 (page 273, Junior synonym of rufa )
• Nylander, W. 1849 [1848]. Additamentum alterum adnotationum in monographiam formicarum borealium. Acta Soc. Sci. Fenn. 3: 25-48 (page 29, worker described)
• Yarrow, I. H. H. 1955a. The British ants allied to Formica rufa L. (Hym., Formicidae). Trans. Soc. Br. Entomol. 12: 1-48 (page 3, Junior synonym of rufa )
• Bolton, B. 1995b. A new general catalogue of the ants of the world. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 504 pp. (page 198, Unavailable name (published as junior synoynm)
• Retzius, A. J. 1783. Caroli de Geer. Genera et species insectorum e generosissimi auctoris scriptis extraxit, digessit, Latine quoad partem reddidit, et terminologiam insectorum Linneanam addidit. Lipsiae [= Leipzig]: Cruse, 220 pp. (page 75, worker described)