Lasius buccatus

Identification
Radchenko (2005) - Starcke (1942) described Lasius buccatus from Bosnia, based on the queens and male. I have never seen either the type specimens of this species, nor any other materials referred to it, and have no definitive opinion on the taxonomic status of this form. However, Wilson (1955) supposed L. buccatus to be a good species on the basis of several somewhat unusual characters of the queens, especially for their head narrower than the alitrunk. If Starcke's description and drawings were correct, this feature would be unique for Dendrolasius species. This question may be clarified after obtaining the type specimens and additional material from the type locality or any adjacent regions.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Slovakia.

Nomenclature

 *  buccatus. Lasius (Dendrolasius) buccatus Stärcke, 1942c: xxvii, figs. 6, 7 (q.m.) YUGOSLAVIA.

Queen
Wilson (1955) - (1) A sharp median carina runs from the junction of the clypeus and the frontal triangle to a small shallow pit in the center of the clypeus. The Lasius fuliginosus clypeus invariably has an indistinct, obtuse median keel running most of its length, but I have never seen the posterior segment prominently developed. This keel in fuliginosus often dips slightly in the middle, and in one series, from Imer, Venezia Tridentina (MCZ), the dip is even developed into a shallow, very indistinct depression, which nonetheless still does not approach the condition figured by Starcke for buccatus.

(2) The head of buccatus is narrower than in fuliginosus, according to Starckeabout 1.03 X longer than broad (HL/HW). In none of the fuliginosus series I have measured does the HL exceed 0.95 X the HW.

(3) Head narrower than the thorax. No specific measurements are given by Starcke, but if true, this character represents an extraordinary exception to the rule for Dendrolasius.

(4) The antenna dark brown, nearly the same color as the head. fuliginosus has medium brown antennae which contrast against the blackish brown head.

Male
Wilson (1955) - (1) Lateral margins of the head, especially the genal margins, more convex than in fuliginosus. From Starckes figure, the head width just below the eyes is nearly the same as that above the eyes; in fuliginosus it is only about 0.9 X as great. As a result the buccatus head presents an almost circular outline in frontal view.

(2) Mandibles with seven well developed teeth including the apical. In the single male the dental pattern is the same on both mandibles: the fifth tooth and seventh tooth (the latter on the basal angle) are reduced in size. In fuliginosus adventitious denticles are often developed at random along the masticatory border but they are never as large and seldom as numerous as the teeth depicted by Starcke for buccatus, and they never form a constant pattern.