Messor atanassovii

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Messor atanassovii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Stenammini
Genus: Messor
Species group: instabilis
Species complex: semirufus
Species: M. atanassovii
Binomial name
Messor atanassovii
Atanassov, 1982

Salata, S., Lapeva-Gjonova, A. et al. 2023. Review of the Messor semirufus complex in Greece (10.3897@zookeys.1185.111484), Figs. 1-2.jpg

Recorded from lowland and highland open habitats from sea level to an altitude 1010 m. In Greece, it was noted in mountain pastures, sands near marshes close to the seacoast, on a beach, and in a ruderal area in a tourist resort. At the same time, in Bulgaria, it was frequently collected along dirt roads, sometimes water channels and riverbeds in the area. Nests were observed in sandy areas directly in the ground. Workers built around the nest’s entrance a low mound of sand without plant remains or herb seeds. Contrary to Messor wasmanni occurring in the same areas, workers did not tread paths in the ground and penetrated the vicinity of the nest at a distance of only 2 meters from the entrance to the nest. At temperatures less than 28 °C, workers were also active in the middle of the day. (Salata et al., 2023)

Identification

Messor atanassovii with mean HW of the largest workers 1.98 (max 2.30) and HL 1.90 (max 2.13) belongs to the small members of the M. instabilis group in the Balkans and is distinctly smaller than members of the Messor wasmanni complex with mean HW of the largest workers > 2.65 (max 2.95) and HL > 2.46 (max 2.68). It is slightly larger than both species from Cyclades: Messor danaes and Messor veneris that have mean HW 1.78 (max 1.91) and 1.89 (max 2.04) respectively. M. danaes differs also in body always uniformly black while in M. atanassovii most specimens have mesosoma mostly or partly red and specimens with body predominantly black represent less than 5% of population. Both M. danaes and M. veneris have small numbers of large setae in occipital part of head, usually 1–6 (up to 8), while M. atanassovii has 12–20 setae on occiput. Messor kardamenae has the same range of colour variation of mesosoma as M. atanassovii (from predominantly red to mostly brown or partly black) but it differs in larger body size with mean ML of the largest workers 2.92 (max 3.25), HW 2.63 (max 2.85) and HL 2.41 (max 2.55) while in M. atanassovii mean ML is 2.40 (max 2.73), HW 1.98 (max 2.30) and HL 1.90 (max 2.13) respectively. Messor atanassovii has relatively longer antennal scapes in major workers with SL/HW 0.68–0.74 (mean 0.721) while in M. kardamenae SL/HW is 0.64–0.68 (mean 0.659) respectively. In M. atanassovii, the first gastral tergite usually has very short and sparse erect setae (mostly limited to basal third of the first tergite) but sometimes erect setae are present also in posterior half of its surface while M. kardamenae has first gastral tergite always lacking erect setae. Messor creticus appears to be the most similar to M. atanassovii but it differs in less numerous erect setae on posterior head, stronger sculpture on propodeum that is entirely covered with thick and sparser rugae, and its dorsum does not bear reduced sculpture or smooth patches. Both species are separated geographically, M. atanassovii is northern species noted from Bulgaria and north and western Greek provinces (Epirus, Ionian Islands, Eastern Macedonia, and Thraki and Central Macedonia) while M. creticus is southern species and occurs only in Crete. From other species of M. semirufus complex known from the eastern part of the Mediterranean basin, only similarly sized and coloured specimens of M. intermedius appear similar but they differ in occipital part of head without or at most with two erect setae, and the lack of erect setae on the first gastral tergite.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 42.596228° to 42.596228°.

 
North
Temperate 		North
Subtropical 		Tropical South
Subtropical 		South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: Bulgaria (type locality), Greece.

Distribution based on AntMaps

AntMapLegend.png

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.
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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.
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Biology

Castes

Worker

  • Salata et al. (2023), Figures 10, 11. Head of Messor atanassovii, population from Epirus. 10, major worker. 11, minor worker. Scale bar: 1 mm.
  • Salata et al. (2023), Figures 1, 2. Major worker of Messor atanassovii, population from Epirus. 1, dorsal 2 lateral. Scale bar: 1 mm.
  • Salata et al. (2023), Figures 5, 6. The palest specimens of Messor atanassovii, population from Epirus. 5, medium worker. 6, minor worker. Scale bar: 1 mm.
  • Salata et al. (2023), Figures 7–9. Workers of Messor atanassovii, population from Thraki. 7, 8, medium workers. 9, major worker. Scale bar: 1 mm.
  • Salata et al. (2023), Figures 3, 4. Minor worker of Messor atanassovii, population from Epirus. 3, dorsal. 4, lateral. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Queen

  • Salata et al. (2023), Figure 14. Head of gyne of Messor atanassovii, population from Epirus. Scale bar: 1 mm.
  • Salata et al. (2023), Figures 12, 13. Gyne of Messor atanassovii, population from Epirus. 12, dorsal. 13, lateral. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Nomenclature

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

  • atanassovii. Messor atanassovii Atanassov, 1982: 209, figs. 1-3 (s.w.q.) BULGARIA.
    • Type-material: holotype worker, 25+ paratype workers, 2 paratype queens.
    • Type-locality: holotype Bulgaria: Assenovgrad, slopes of Rhodope Mts, 200 m., 28.ix.1961, no. 2189 (N. Atanassov); paratypes: 25 workers, 2 queens with same data; other paratypes (numbers not stated) Bulgaria: Dagore Village, nr. Stara Zagora, 25.vii.1961, no. 2183 (N. Atanassov), Bulgaria: Belosem Village, Plovdiv Distr., 20.vii.1961, no. 2178 (N. Atanossov).
    • Type-depositories: BASS (holotype); BASS, RASM.
    • [Note: atanassovii incorrectly regarded as an unavailable name by Baroni Urbani, Aktaç & Camiltepe, 1989: 300 (Bolton, 1995b: 252).]
    • Status as species: Atanassov & Dlussky, 1992: 119; Bolton, 1995b: 252; Lapeva-Gjonova, et al. 2010: 14; Borowiec, L. 2014: 102.
    • Distribution: Bulgaria.

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

Description

Worker

Salata et al. (2023)

Major (n = 5): HL: 1.820–2.133 (mean 1.903); HW: 1.860–2.300 (mean 1.980); SL: 1.380–1.560 (mean 1.424); EL: 0.325–0.414 (mean 0.350); WL: 2.317–2.733 (mean 2.395); MW: 1.079–1.341 (mean 1.150); PSL: 0.238–0.317 (mean 0.278); PW: 0.381–0.476 (mean 0.409); PPW: 0.489–0.569 (mean 0.544); HL/HW: 0.927–0.984 (mean 0.962); SL/HW: 0.678–0.742 (mean 0.721); WL/MW: 2.038–2.260 (mean 2.132); EL/HL: 0.178–0.194 (mean 0.184); PSL/HW: 0.128–0.151 (mean 0.140); PPW/PW: 1.283–1.384 (mean 1.328).

Colour. Variable. Head mostly black, only gena, mandibles and frontal triangle reddish. In pale specimens, frons brown to black, and rest of head reddish to reddish brown. Mesosoma in most specimens completely or predominantly red, in dark specimens mesosoma predominantly brown to black with reddish to brown patches, occasionally whole mesosoma black with indistinct brown patch on mesonotum. Petiole and postpetiole reddish, or only with base reddish and nodes brown to black. Gaster black, sometimes with reddish or yellowish transparent hind margins. Coxa reddish brown to brownish black, femora and tibiae brown to black with yellowish to reddish knee, basal segments of hind and mid tarsi brown, apical segments of hind and mid tarsi, and whole fore tarsi yellowish to reddish. Antennal scapes mostly dark brown to black with yellowish apex, funicle usually completely brown or dark brown basally and yellowish brown apically. Head. Subrectangular, 0.93–0.98× as long as wide, sides below eyes subparallel, above eyes subparallel then softly rounded, posterior margin shallowly concave. Anterior clypeal margin straight, without median emargination, with a row of 6–8 long marginal, yellowish setae, the longest as long as length of clypeus. Clypeus without appressed pubescence, laterally with a single erect seta and long erect seta close to the middle of lateral margin of central plate. Clypeus centrally with variable sculpture, from irregular rugosities to mostly smooth, without or with few longitudinal rugae, without median keel, interspaces microreticulate but shiny. Eyes small and broadly oval, 0.5–0.6× as long as the gena. Frontal triangle impressed, with smooth surface and 2–4 short longitudinal striae, shiny. Frontal carinae short, slightly extending beyond frontal lobes. Frons narrow, in the narrowest part ~ 0.28× as wide as head width. Antennal fossa deep, not surrounded by semicircular striae, surface smooth and shiny. Head mostly without background microreticulation or with strongly diffused microreticulation, micropunctate with very small and sparse pits, strongly shiny. Frons mostly or completely lacking longitudinal striae, sometimes few striae laterally, with or without very narrow short shallow median sulcus, gena with short longitudinal striae, area behind rather smooth or with indistinct microreticulation, without striation. The whole head surface covered with short and sparse, but clearly visible white appressed pubescence. Frontal lobes with single long erect seta, and frons behind frontal carinae with single long erect seta and laterally to ocellar cavity with two regular rows of three or four setae, often broken in mature specimens. Vertex with 12–20 long erect setae on almost whole occipital region including occipital corners, often with several short decumbent setae between the large setae, sides of the head and gena without standing setae, occasionally gena with single short semierect seta. Ventral part of the head and inner margin of mandibles with numerous, long erect setae, partly forming a J-shaped psammophore. Antennal scape short, in frontal view almost straight, only apically slightly curved, without preapical constriction, 0.68–0.74× as long as the width of the head; base of scapus moderately extended, outer angle acute, inner angle angulate. Funiculus distinctly longer than scape, pedicel moderately elongated, ~ 2.2× as long as wide at apex, not flattened dorsoventrally, ~ 0.74× as long as segments 2 and 3 combined and 1.5× as long as segment 2. Surface of the scape with diffused microreticulation, shiny, covered with long and sparse, white, decumbent to subdecumbent hairs. Mandibles rounded, with deep striae, surface shiny with a few long and short yellow setae, cutting edge in large majors without teeth or with serrulate edge. Mesosoma. Moderately long, 2.0–2.3× as long as wide. Promesonotum regularly convex in profile with pronotum not bulging above mesonotal plate, pronotal sides regularly rounded. Propodeum positioned lower than promesonotum, flat to very slightly convex anteriorly then subangulate to rounded posteriorly, posterior slope oblique, flat, distinctly concave thus propodeal angle distinct, forming angulate tubercle. Pronotum anteriorly and dorsally with transverse rugae and diffusely microreticulate interspaces but shiny, often anterolateral corners of pronotum with diffused rugae, sides of pronotum in pale forms with fine semicircular striae, often partly diffused, in dark forms with more evident striae, interspaces indistinctly microreticulate but shiny. Elevated dorsal plate of mesonotum mostly without rugae, sometimes anteriorly with short longitudinal rugae and laterally with slightly irregular surface, mesopleura with sharp perpendicular rugae and strong microreticulation. Propodeum dorsally, on dorsal half of sides and on posterior face with sharp transverse rugae, in metapleural area with sharp longitudinal rugae, interspaces with diffused microreticulation, on metapleuron and posterior face of propodeum partly smooth and shiny. Vestiture and setation of mesosoma sparse, pronotum with 8–12 long, yellow erect setae, the longest with length 0.285, sides of the pronotum without suberect setae, mesonotum anteriorly with 8–10 and posteriorly 5–8 long erect setae, metapleuron in posterolateral corners with short subdecumbent setae, propodeum dorsally with one pair of long erect setae and often 1–3 setae laterally, often broken in mature specimens. Petiole. Elongate, with long pedicel and moderately high triangular node, thin, PI 1.3–1.4, pedicel, and base of node with distinct reticulate sculpture, anterior face concave with diffused microreticulation, shiny, sides of node strongly microreticulate with few rugosities. Top of petiole angulate; upper margin and sides with 6–8 erect setae. Postpetiole. Rounded in profile, globular in dorsal view, 1.3–1.4× as wide as the petiole, surface microreticulate, and often with short longitudinal striae, with 6–8 setae on top and 10–12 long erect setae along base. Gaster. Whole surface of first tergite with diffused but clearly visible background microreticulation, surface shiny, but sometimes the microreticulation more distinct especially in the largest majors or the darkest specimens, covered with extremely sparse and short appressed hairs and at base usually with several short erect setae, sometimes posterior half of first gastral tergite with few erect setae, in north-eastern populations (Bulgaria, Greek Thraki) base of gaster is less setose than in populations from Epirus and Ionian Islands, only occasionally whole first tergite without setae; second tergite with several long erect setae. Legs. Moderately elongate, femora distinctly swollen centrally, tibiae moderately widened apically, mid and hind tarsi longer than tibiae. Whole surface of femora diffusely microreticulated, dorsally and laterally covered with moderately sparse and long, decumbent and subdecumbent and ventrally semierect to erect setae. Surface of tibiae covered with sparse and long decumbent to semierect setae.

Minor (n = 5): HL: 0.997–1.135 (mean 1.067); HW: 0.921–1.063 (mean 1.014); SL: 0.849–0.952 (mean 0.894); EL: 0.198–0.238 (mean 0.217); WL: 1.365–1.571 (mean 1.476); MW: 0.611–0.698 (mean 0.668); PSL: 0.146–0.162 (mean 0.153); PW: 0.211–0.254 (mean 0.238); PPW: 0.309–0.349 (mean 0.329); HL/HW: 1.026–1.082 (mean 1.054); SL/HW: 0.836–0.922 (mean 0.883); WL/MW: 2.164–2.251 (mean 2.210); EL/HL: 0.182–0.215 (mean 0.204); PSL/HW: 0.143–0.158 (mean 0.151); PPW/PW: 1.299–1.464 (mean 1.383).

Colour. As coloured as major workers, but pale specimens are more frequent than in majors. Head. Slightly more elongated and more rounded in frontal view than in major workers, 1.03–1.08× as long as wide, softly converging anterad and posterad, behind eyes more regularly rounded, occipital margin of the head slightly convex. Clypeus as sculptured as in majors, shiny. Frons mostly smooth and shiny, without or with very short striae laterally, gena with shorter rugae than in majors. Background microreticulation of head usually completely reduced thus surface appear strongly smooth and shiny. Mesosoma. Slightly slimmer than in majors, WL/MW ratio ~ 2.2. Pronotal surface mostly without rugae, only with diffused microreticulation. Sculpture of mesonotum and propodeum as in majors. Propodeal angle less marked than in majors. Setation and vestiture of mesosoma as in majors but with lower number of setae, propodeum often without standing setae). Petiole and postpetiole. As in major workers but surface with partly reduced reticulation and striae and with smaller numbers of erect setae. Gaster. Shinier than in majors, with background microreticulation often completely diffused, especially in posterior half of first gastral tergite. Rest of characters as in major workers.

Queen

Salata et al. (2023) - (n = 2): HL: 1.900–1.943 (mean 1.922); HW: 1.990–2.120 (mean 2.055); SL: 1.508–1,614 (mean 1.561); EL: 0.508–0.510 (mean 0.509); WL: 3.750–3.796 (mean 3.773); MW: 1.830–1.957 (mean 1.894); PSL: 0.405–0.410 (mean 0,408); PW: 0.603–0.642 (mean 0.623); PPW: 0.778–0.835 (mean 0.807); HL/HW: 0.917–0.955 (mean 0.936); SL/HW: 0.758–0.761 (mean 0.760); WL/MW: 1.940–2.049 (mean 1.994); EL/HL: 0.262–0.267 (mean 0.265); PSL/HW: 0.193–0.204 (mean 0.198); PPW/PW: 1.290–1.301 (mean 1.295).

Colour. Whole body black, including head, petiole and postpetiole, and gaster (gyne from Lefkada) or almost entirely black, except for anterior margin of genae, mandibles, and antennas, which are reddish brown (gyne from Bulgaria). Legs predominantly black except reddish knee and part reddish yellow tarsi (gyne from Lefkada) or with black coxa and femur, reddish brown knees, tibiae, and tarsi (gyne from Bulgaria). Head. Subrectangular, ~ 0.94× as long as wide, sides below eyes subparallel, above eyes subparallel then rounded, posterior margin shallowly concave. Anterior clypeal margin convex, without median emargination, with a row of 12 long marginal, six submarginal and four medial yellowish setae, the longest as long as length of clypeus. Clypeus without appressed pubescence. Surface of the clypeus irregular, centrally with longitudinal rugae and with median keel, interspaces microreticulate but shiny. Eyes moderately large, EL/HL ratio ~ 0.27 and broadly oval and approximately as long as the gena. Frontal triangle impressed, with smooth surface and several longitudinal striae, shiny. Frontal carinae short, slightly extending beyond frontal lobes. Frons narrow, in the narrowest part 0.25–0.32× as wide as head width. Antennal fossa deep, surrounded by diffused semicircular striae, surface smooth or with diffused microreticulation, shiny. Head mostly smooth and shiny with sparse pits. Frons on almost whole surface with well-marked longitudinal striae and with very narrow, short, shallow median sulcus, gena with short longitudinal striae, area behind eyes with diffused microreticulation, without striation. Surface covered with short and sparse white appressed pubescence. Frontal lobes with single long erect seta, and frons behind frontal carinae up to posterior ocelli with two irregular rows of several long erect setae. Vertex with numerous long erect setae placed in whole occipital area but with the most numerous setae in occipital corners. Ventral part of the head with several, long, partly J-shaped erect setae. Antennal scape short, in frontal view almost straight only apically slightly curved, without preapical constriction, 0.76× as long as the width of the head; base of scapus moderately extended, outer and inner angle angulate. Funiculus distinctly longer than scape, pedicel moderately elongated, 2.2–2.5× as long as wide at apex, not flattened dorsoventrally, 0.69–0.82× as long as segments 2 and 3 combined and 1.2–1.46× as long as segment 2. Surface of the scape with diffused microreticulation, shiny, covered with long and sparse, white, decumbent to suberect hairs. Mandibles rounded, with deep striae, surface shiny with a few long and short yellow setae, cutting edge with large, sharp teeth. Mesosoma. Stout, approximately twice as long as wide. Pronotum very short and not visible from above. Scutum mostly flat and only anteriorly slightly bulging. Surface of scutum smooth and shiny, without striation or rugae. Scutellum slightly convex, 1.2× as wide as long, surface smooth and shiny. Propodeum on sides with sharp carina forming at propodeal angle sharp elevation but without denticle. Pronotum anteriorly and laterally with transverse rugae and diffusely microreticulate interspaces but shiny, anepisternum and katepisternum with fine transverse rugae, finer anteriorly and sharper posteriorly, in the middle of katepisternum rugae partly diffused, interspaces mostly smooth and shiny. Propodeum dorsally, on dorsal half of sides and on posterior face with sharp transverse rugae, in metapleural area with sharp longitudinal rugae, interspaces with distinct microreticulation. Vestiture and setation of scutum sparse, only in anterior half with very sparse decumbent hairs, rest of surface with erect setae, denser in anterolateral corners and gradually sparser posterad, the longest setae with length 0.3, scutellum with only two setae centrally and several setae laterally, anepisternum with only few subdecumbent setae, katepisternum with less than 20 subdecumbent to semierect setae. Petiole. Elongate, with long pedicel and moderately high triangular node, thin, PI 1.5, pedicel, and base of node with distinct reticulate sculpture, anterior face of node with diffused microreticulation, shiny, sides of node microreticulate and posterior face of node microreticulate, without rugae or striation. Top of petiole sharply angulate, with six erect setae. Postpetiole. Rounded in profile, globular in dorsal view, 1.3× as wide as the petiole, whole surface with 26 long erect setae. Gaster. Whole surface of first tergite with fine but clearly visible background microreticulation, surface shiny, covered with sparse and short semierect and erect setae, the longest with length 0.190; second tergite with two rows of erect setae, 1/3 longer than setae on first tergite. Legs. Moderately elongate, femora distinctly swollen centrally, tibiae moderately widened apically, mid and hind tarsi shorter than tibiae. Whole surface of femora diffusely microreticulated, dorsally and laterally covered with moderately sparse and long, decumbent and subdecumbent and ventrally semierect to erect setae. Surface of tibiae covered with sparse and long decumbent to semierect setae, fore femora ventrally with row of 12 long and moderately long setae.

Type Material

Salata et al. (2023) - The location of the type material is unknown. A. Lapeva-Gjonova unsuccessfully searched for the type specimens of Messor atanassovii in the collection of the Institute of Zoology of the Academy of Sciences in Sofia, which is indicated as the type material depository in the original description. However, during the search, it was revealed that currently the collection of Neno Atanassov is stored at the National Museum of Natural History, Sofia, Bulgaria. The investigation of the material revealed eight worker specimens of Messor with a label with a registration number “2183”, which corresponds to the number assigned to the part of paratypes mentioned in Atanassov (1982). Although the morphological characteristics of the specimens match those mentioned in the species description, there are no collecting, identification, or designation labels attached to any of them. Thus, A. Lapeva-Gjonova organised an expedition to the sites indicated as terra typica of the species at the site near Belozem Village (east of Plovdiv) and collected a nest sample with Messor specimens bearing all the characters given in the original description of Messor atanassovii (topotypes).

Taxonomic Notes

This species was identified as Messor cf. ebeninus by Bračko et al. (2018: 22) and Messor cf. semirufus by Bračko et al. (2018: 23).

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Atanassov N. 1982. Neue Ameisen aus den Gattungen Messor und Cataglyphis (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) für die Fauna Bulgariens. Waldhygiene 14: 209-214.
  • Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
  • Czechowski W., A. Radchenko, W. Czechowska and K. Vepsäläinen. 2012. The ants of Poland with reference to the myrmecofauna of Europe. Fauna Poloniae 4. Warsaw: Natura Optima Dux Foundation, 1-496 pp
  • Lapeva-Gjonova, L., V. Antonova, A. G. Radchenko, and M. Atanasova. "Catalogue of the ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Bulgaria." ZooKeys 62 (2010): 1-124.
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