Lasius bombycina

The main habitats are different kinds of xerothermous grassland, but in Turkey this species was also found in an urban garden. It frequently builds more hidden soil nests but in the steppes of the Neusiedler See region conspicuous soil mounds overgrown by herbs were observed which seems to be a difference to Lasius paralienus. Over the whole range, alates are observed inside the nests or swarming rather late: 9 September ± 26 d [1 August – 21 October] n=7. Oviposition of foundresses usually does not start before the next spring and workers develop until July. Gynes are on average larger than in Lasius alienus and Lasius psammophilus. In a laboratory nest, a founding gyne reared 26 workers without feeding (Andrasfalvy 1961; named by Andrasfalvy "Lasius alienus", recent determination as L. bombycina by geographic indication, swarming time and verbal description). Above-ground foraging was observed on the soil surface, in the herb layer and on bushes. There is trophobiosis with subterranean and epigaean Aphidae and tending of Lycaenidae caterpilars (Plebeijus sephirus, Plebeijus argus). Lasius bombycina is zoophagous on small invertebrates.

Distribution
L. bombycina has a meridional to submeridional Balkanian-Anatolian distribution. The most northwestern point of its range is in E Austria (48.0°N, 16.7°E). In Asia Minor it goes east to 44°E at least and shows here a very wide altitudinal range from sea level to 2350 m (at 40.6°N). Sympatric occurrence with Lasius paralienus is known so far only in the NW Balkans and Bulgaria.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Slovenia, Turkey.

Nomenclature

 *  bombycina. Lasius bombycina Seifert & Galkowski, 2016:, figs. 6, 10-12 (w.q.m.) TURKEY.

Type Material



 * Four paratype workers on a second pin, one male and a gyne paratype on a third pin, all with the same site labeling as the holotype but labeled "Paratype Lasius bombycina Seifert & Galkowski"; Senckenberg Museum für Naturkunde Görlitz.
 * Three paratype workers labelled "Türkei_26, Prov. Kayseri, Ziyarettepesi Gecidi (ca. 130 km E. Kayseri), 1900mH, 09.05.1997, Leg. A.Schulz, K.Vock, M. Sanetra 01"; Naturhistorisches Museum Wien.