Key to Lasius species of the subgenus Chthonolasius of Greece
This key to workers is from Borowiec and Salata 2022. Each terminal couplet is followed by comparative remarks that are specific to the Greek ant fauna.
You may also be interested in
- Greece species list
- Ants of Greece project page
- Ants of Crete project page
1
- Whole surface of first gastral tergite with erected setae. Petiolar scale of variable shape . . . . . #2
- Dorsal area of first gastral tergite lacking erected setae except row of setae at front and posterior margin of the tergite. Petiolar scale very high with deeply excised upper margin . . . . . Lasius bicornis
2
return to couplet #1
- Erected setae on mesosomal dorsum long, GHL 0.058-0.135 mm. Dorsal surface of scape and external side of hind tibiae sometimes with setae . . . . . #3
- Erected setae on mesosomal dorsum very short, GHL 0.037-0.055 mm. Dorsal surface of scape and external side of hind tibiae without setae . . . . . Lasius mixtus
3
return to couplet #2
- Petiole in caudal view slightly notched, concave, straight or convex dorsal crest and usually only slightly tapering dorsad . . . . . #4
- Petiole in caudal view with a deeply incised dorsal crest and strongly tapering dorsad. Genae usually with 0-3 setae . . . . . Lasius citrinus
4
return to couplet #3
- Petiole not or slightly narrowing anterad, dorsal crest truncate or with shallow excavation at apex. Hind tibia without or with numerous erected setae . . . . . #5
- Petiole distinctly narrowing anterad, dorsal crest usually clearly convex or with very shallow notch at apex. Hind tibia with numerous erected setae . . . . . Lasius jensi
5
return to couplet #4
- Dorsum of first gastral tergite with dense to moderately dense pubescence and frontal face of the tergite with short setae. Surface of first gastral tergite more or less distinctly microsculptured, usually appears slightly dull or shiny . . . . . #6
- Dorsum of first gastral tergite with sparse pubescence and frontal face of the tergite with long setae. Surface of first gastral tergite with diffused microsculpture, appears smooth and shiny . . . . . Lasius nitidigaster
6
return to couplet #5
- Erected setae on mesosomal dorsum long, GHL > 0.090 mm. Dorsal surface of scape and external side of hind tibiae with several erected setae . . . . . #7
- Erected setae on mesosomal dorsum short, GHL< 0.090 mm. Dorsal surface of scape and external side of hind tibiae without setae or with only few semierected setae . . . . . Lasius sabularum
7
return to couplet #6
- Small to moderate species, CW up to 1.044 mm. Second segment of antennal funicle moderately elongate, at most 1.5 times as long as wide. Pubescence of gaster moderately dense, the average distance between setae on first gastral tergite less than 35 μm. Hind tibia and antennal scape not to strongly flattened . . . . . #8
- Large species, CW up to 1.270 mm. Second segment of antennal funicle elongate, approximately 1.6 times as long as wide. Pubescence of gaster sparse, the average distance between setae on first gastral tergite is 35 μm. Hind tibia and antennal scape strongly flattened . . . . . Lasius viehmeyeri
8
return to couplet #7
- Hind tibia moderately wide and not strongly flattened, HTmax/CS distinctly less than 0.1449. Antennal scape moderately flattened. Appressed pubescence on gastral tergites denser . . . . . #9
- Hind tibia strongly widened and flattened, HTmax/CS up to 0.1449. Antennal scape strongly flattened. Appressed pubescence on gastral tergites sparser. Hind tibia with numerous standing setae . . . . . Lasius meridionalis
9
return to couplet #8
- External margin of hind tibia usually with less than 10 erected setae, sometimes lacking erected setae. Antennal scapus with only few semierected and erected setae, sometimes lacking erected setae. Here two species distinguishable only for characters of queen caste . . . . . Lasius balcanicus and Lasius distinguendus
- External margin of hind tibia usually with more than 10 erected setae. Antennal scapus with numerous semierect and erected setae . . . . . Lasius umbratus