Lasius kritikos

Lasius kritikos
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Lasiini
Genus:	Lasius
Section:	niger clade
Species group:	alienus
Species complex:	paralienus
Species:	L. kritikos
Binomial name
	Lasius kritikos; Seifert, 2020 Specimen Labels

One sample was collected in a mountainous, NW-facing Quercus forest.

Identification

Palaearctic Lasius s. str. species belonging to the Lasius paralienus species complex.

Borowiec and Salata (2022) - Lasius kritikos together with Lasius bombycina and Lasius paralienus (also Lasius casevitzi but it is not present in Greece) form a complex of species characterized by antennal scapi lacking erected setae, hind tibiae with up to 4 erected setae in basal part, numerous erected setae in area below propodeal stigma, and especially by very dense pubescence of clypeus almost entirely covering its surface. Due to their morphological similarity their separation has to be supported with morphometric data. However, L. kritikos as an endemic of Crete and is separated geographically from both relatives. Lasius bombycina is the largest species of this complex and has the shortest maxillary palpi (length of sixth segment 0.102-0.151, mean 0.135) while L. kritikos is smaller but has the longest palpi (terminal segment with length 0.142-0.176, mean 0.160). L. paralienus has terminal segment of palpi shorter than in L. kritikos (length 0.142-0.176, mean 0. 160) and differs also in the shortest hair of mesosoma with length of the longest hair 0.075-0.134 (mean 0.134) vs. 0.116-0.147 (mean 0.134) in L. kritikos.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Endemic to Crete.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: Greece (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.

Habitat

Borowiec and Salata (2022) - Lasius kritikos prefers mountain and submountain habitats in altitude from 354 to 1450 m, usually above 800 m. Numerous nests were observed in mountain plateaus, mountain pastures or inside mediterranean forests of small oaks.

Biology

Usually nests under stones but also found in sandy soil.

Castes

Worker

Borowiec and Salata 2022. Figures 88.3-4, worker. Photographed by Lech Borowiec.
Borowiec and Salata 2022. Figures 88.1-2, worker. Photographed by Lech Borowiec.

Images from AntWeb


Holotype of Lasius kritikos. Worker. Specimen code antweb1041445. 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.

kritikos. Lasius kritikos Seifert, 2020: 60, figs. 39-40 (w.) GREECE.

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

Description

Worker

Absolute size rather small (CS 866 µm). Scape and maxillary palp length indices high (SL/CS900 1.007, MP6/ CS900 0.217). Number of mandibular dents not recordable in the available material but MaDe900 predictably > 8. Clypeal pubescence very dense (sqPDCL900 3.36). Pronotal setae long (PnHL/CS900 0.155). Dorsum of scape, extensor profile of hind tibia and metapleuron below propodeal spiracle without or with very few semierect to erect setae (nSc900 0.9, nHT900 2.2, nSt900 1.6). Lasius kritikos shares with Lasius casevitzi the large SL/CS900 and MP6/ CS900 data but can be separated from the latter by the much lower setae numbers. Coloration: medium brown with a yellowish tinge, gaster a little lighter; mandibles antennae, tibiae and tarsae a pale yellowish brown.

See table 4 in Seifert 2020 for additional morphometrics. The abbreviated names of various quantitative data shown above are defined here: Seifert 2020 Lasius characters.

Borowiec and Salata (2022) - Moderately large, HL 0.834-0.951 (mean 0.900), HW 0.753-0.894 (mean 0.832), ML 0.94-1.08. Scape moderately elongate, SL 0.798-0.932 (mean 0.878). Color. Body and femora concolour yellowish brown to brown. Mandibles, scapi, tibiae and often gaster slightly lighter. Structure and setation. Head slightly elongated, with convex sides and straight posterior margin. Terminal segment of maxillary palpi long with length of sixth segment 0.142-0.176 (mean 0.160). Occipital part of head with 12-24 erected setae. Gena with 0-1 erected setae, underside of head with 1-4 erected setae. Mesosomal dorsum with several long erected setae (length of the longest seta 0.116-0.147, mean 0.134). Below propodeal spiracle 0-3 erected setae. Masticatory border of mandibles with 8-9 teeth. Antennal scapi with smooth pubescence lacking erected setae or at most with one erected setae. Hind tibiae on external surface in basal parts without or with 1-4 erected setae. Ventral surface of fore femora with 3-6 and mid femora 2-5 erected setae, of hind femora with 1-3 setae close to base of femur, anterior surface of fore coxa with several long erected setae. Pubescence on the whole body and appendages very dense and whitish. Pubescence of clypeus dense, mostly covering Clypeus. Surface of gastral tergites distinctly sculptured , first gastral tergite in central part with numerous erected setae. Propodeum in lateral view rather low and obtuse, metanotal groove moderately deep.

Type Material

Holotype plus 2 paratype workers on the same pin labelled ”GREECE: 24.04—04.05.1992 Kreta, Ida Gebirge Nordseite, 1400-1500 mH, Leg. Schulz 640“; 3 paratype workers labelled ”GREECE: 24.04—04.05.1992 Kreta, Ida Gebirge Nordseite, 1300 mH, Leg. Schulz 644“; 6 paratype workers on Holotype plus 2 paratype workers on the same pin labelled ”GREECE: 24.04—04.05.1992 Kreta, Ida Gebirge Nordseite, 1400-1500 mH, Leg. Schulz 640“; 3 paratype workers labelled ”GREECE: 24.04—04.05.1992 Kreta, Ida Gebirge Nordseite, 1300 mH, Leg. Schulz 644“; 6 paratype workers on two pins labelled ”GR- Kreta, 3 km SW Omalos, 1400-1600m, Nordwesthang Eichenwald, Leg: Schulz 24.04-04.05.1992, 682“; depository Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Görlitz.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek masculine word Κρήτήκος for an inhabitant of Crete.

References