Lasius spathepus

This species exhibits temporary social parasitism. Queens found new colonies by infiltrating an established nest of another Lasius species, killing the queen and using host workers to care for her initial brood.

Identification
Radchenko (2005) - Lasius spathepus is the most peculiar species of the genus, especially for the characters of its queens. Workers are similar to those of Lasius orientalis by their distinctly flattened scape, but well differ from the latter by the much thinner, narrowing at the top petiolar scale. On the other hand, the shape of petiolar scale recalls Lasius nipponensis, but in the latter the scape is not flattened.

Distribution
Radchenko (2005) - Southern part of Russian Far East (known only from one locality: Primorsky Region, Anisimovka), Korean Peninsula, Japan (all four main Islands).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation.

Biology
This species is temporary parasite, with its most likely host.

Nomenclature

 *  spathepus. Lasius spathepus Wheeler, W.M. 1910b: 130, fig. 1 (q.) JAPAN. Wheeler, W.M. 1928d: 122 (w.); Wilson, 1955a: 149 (m.). Combination in L. (Dendrolasius): Emery, 1925b: 236. Subspecies of fuliginosus: Teranishi, 1927: 90. Revived status as species: Wheeler, W.M. 1928d: 122. See also: Teranishi, 1940: 76; Wilson, 1955a: 149; Yamauchi, 1979: 172; Kupyanskaya, 1989: 787; Kupyanskaya, 1990: 231; Radchenko, 2005a: 89.

Worker
Wilson (1955) - (1) Head broader, occiput usually less concave, and scapes shorter relative to head width than in other Dendrolasius.

(2) Antennal scapes flattened to the extent that for most of their length the minimum measurable width at any point is less than half the maximum measurable width at the same point. Tibiae and metatarsi also noticeably flattened.

(3) Hairs of scapes and legs sparser and longer than in other Dendrolasius. The standing hairs seen in relief when the hind tibia is viewed in the plane of its minimum width are often half as long as the greatest width measurement obtained along the length of the tibia in this view, or longer. Tibial hairs appressed to suberect, the majority tending to decumbent.

(4) The petiole seen in frontal view subrectangular; the dorsal border always emarginate to some degree. In side view the anterior face curving back abruptly just above the level of the spiracle, in contrast to the posterior face, which is gently and evenly convex from the posterior foramen to the crest.

(5) Propodeum viewed from the side typically higher and more prominent relative to the thorax than in other Dendrolasius. A single series from Nanzan, Korea, represents an extreme deviant from this character and is well within the range of variation of fuliginasus.

Radchenko (2005) - Petiolar scale (seen in profile) thin, distinctly narrowing to the top, asymmetrical; when seen in front or from behind it gradually narrowing to the top, with straight or slightly notched dorsal crest; scape distinctly flattened, ratio of min/max diameters of the scape ≤ 0.5; head with convex sides, gradually and slightly narrowing anteriorly, with emarginate occipital margin; scape and legs with numerous short subdecumbent hairs; promesonotal dorsum and occipital margin of the head with relatively sparse and long standing hairs.

Queen
Wilson (1955) - (1) Averaging and ranging larger than other Dendrolasius; HW 1.96-2.03 mm.

(2) Head much broader than long, with a deeply emarginated occipital border and strongly convex sides which curve in sharply at the mandibular insertions. The mandibles exceptionally small relative to the head.

(3) Scapes, femora, tibiae, and metatarsi greatly flattened, the minimum width of the scape at midpoint about half the maximum width.

(4) The broad surfaces of the scape coarsely and evenly punctate.

(5) The dorsal border of the petiole emarginate for nearly its entire extent. In side view the scale is anteriorly truncated as in the worker.

(6) The scapes, tibiae, and metatarsi densely covered with long, predominantly suberect, coarse, silvery yellow hairs. On the tibiae and metatarsi these form two layers, those in the lower, short and densely packed and those in the upper, long, curved and sparse.

(7) Ground pubescence completely lacking on the body. Hairs are limited mostly to the mandibles, clypeus, gula, posterior third of the head, petiole, anterior first gastric tergital surface and posterior gastric tergital margins. The alitrunk is completely lacking in pilosity of any kind except for a few scattered short hairs on the propodeum.

(8) The body is very feebly sculptured and strongly shining, except for the petiole and anterior clypeal margin, which are shagreened; and the mandibles, which are longitudinally striate.

(9) Median clypeal carina well developed posteriorly but vanishing in the planed, shagreened anterior fourth of the clypeus.

Radchenko (2005) - Holotype: HL1 = 1.66, HL2 = 1.85, HW 1 = 2.03, HW 2 = 1.28, SL = 1.55, OL = 0.43, AL = 2.53 mm; CI = 1.22, CLI = 1.11, CWI = 1.59, SI1= 0.93, SI2 = 0.76, OI = 0.21.

Petiolar scale (seen in profile) thin, distinctly narrowing to the top, asymmetrical; head with deeply emarginate occipital margin, cordiform, distinctly wider than long; scape and legs, including the first tarsal joint, remarkably flattened, ratio of min/max diameters of scape and hind tibiae ≤ 0.4; legs with dense decumbent to subdecumbent pubescence; antennal scape with abundant subdecumbent to suberect hairs; head, alitrunk and gaster with very short and sparse decumbent pubescence, alitrunk dorsum without standing hairs.

Male
Wilson (1955) - (1) Averaging and ranging larger than other Dendralasius; HW 1.13-1.27 mm.

(2) Scapes and tibiae distinctly flattened.

(3) Petiole in frontal view distinctly emarginate and much broader than in other Dendrolasius. Petiolar outline in side view similar to that described for the worker.

(4) Pygostyle as in Chthonolasius, i.e, thicker than in Lasius s. s. and tapering gradually from base to tip. The subgenital plate distinctive in shape: the posterior margins between the setiferous lobes and posterior angles more deeply convex than in Lasius fuliginosus and Lasius crispus, causing the setiferous lobes to project back more prominently.

(5) Scape and tibial pilosity longer and sparser than in other Dendrolasius.

Type Material
HOLOTYPE. A queen in the labelled "Japan. Kuwana Coll. 1910."

Radchenko (2005) - Holotype queen: “Japan, Kuwana coll., 1910”, “Type”, “Holotype Lasius spathepus Wheeler”, "M.C.Z. type 71691”.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Anonymous. A list of ants collected at Bandai, Fukushima Prefecture by the members of the Myrmecological Society of Japan in 1992. ARI Reports of the Myrmecologists Society (Japan) 18: 31
 * Azuma M. 1955. A list of ants (Formicidae) from Hokkaido Is. Hyogo Biology 3:79-80.
 * Choi B.-M. 1987. Taxonomic study on ants (Formicidae) in Korea (1). On the genus Monomorium. Journal of the Institute of Science Education (Cheongju National Teachers' College) 11:17-30.
 * Choi B.M. 1986. Studies on the distribution of ants (Formicidae) in Korea. Journal of Chongju National Teacher College 23: 317-386.
 * Choi B.M. 1988. Studies on the distribution of ants (Formicidae) in Korea (5) Ant fauna in Is. Kanghwado. Chongju Sabom Taehak Nonmunjip (Journal of Chongju National Teacher' College) 25: 217-231.
 * Choi B.M. 1996. Studies on the distribution of ants (Formicidae) in Korea (15) -Ant fauna islands Ullungdo and Dokdo. Journal of Chongju National University of Education 33: 201-219.
 * Choi B.M., Bang, J.R. 1992. Studies on the distribution of ants (Formicidae) in Korea (9). Ant fauna in Mt. Togyusan. Korean Journal of Applied Entomology 31:101-112.
 * Choi B.M., E.C. Park. 1998. Studies on the distribution of ants (Formicidae) in Korea (20). Ant fauna in Chiaksan. Korean J. Soil Zoology 3(2): 58-62.
 * Choi B.M., K. Ogata, and M. Terayama. 1993. Comparative studies of ant faunas of Korea and Japan. 1. Faunal comparison  among islands of Southern Korean and northern Kyushu, Japan. Bull. Biogeogr. Soc. Japan 48(1): 37-49.
 * Choi B.M., Kim, C.H., Bang, J.R. 1993. Studies on the distribution of ants (Formicidae) in Korea (13). A checklist of ants from each province (Do), with taxonomic notes. Cheongju Sabom Taehakkyo Nonmunjip (Journal of Cheongju National University of Education) 30: 331-380.
 * Choi B.M., and J. R. Bang. Studies on the distribution of ants (Formicidae) in Korea (12): the analysis of ant communities in 23 islands. Journal of Cheongju National University of Education 30:317-330.
 * Eto S., and K. Ogata. 1983. Ants of Hirado Island, Kyushu. Bulletin of the Nagasaki Prefecture Biological Group 25: 7-11.
 * Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
 * Ha S.J, S.J. Park, and B.J. Kim. 2002. Comparative ant faunas between Seonyudo and seven other islands of West Sea in Korea. Korean Journal of Entomology 32(2): 75-79.
 * Harada Y. S. Koto, N. Kawaguchi, K. Sato, T. Setoguchi, R. Muranaga, H. Yamashita, A. Yo, and S. Yamane. 2012. Ants of Jusso, Isa City, Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan. Bull. biogeogr. Soc. Japan 67: 143-152.
 * Harada Y., K. Nishikubo, K. Matsumoto, M. Matsuda, Y. Inazawa, Y. Ozono, S. Koto, N. Kawaguchi, and S. Yamane. 2011. Ant fauna of Japanese beech (Fagus crenata) forests in southwestern Japan. Bull. Biogeogr. Soc. Japan 66: 115-127.
 * Harada Y., Yadori H., Takinami R., Nagahama K., Matsumoto Y., Oyama A., Maeda S. and Yamane S.K. 2013. Ants of the southernmost Fagus crenata forest in Japan. Nature of Kagoshima 39: 113-118
 * Harada Y., Yadori H., Takinami R., Nagahama K., Matsumoto Y., Oyama A., Maeda S. and Yamane S.K. 2013. Ants of the southernmost Fagus crenata forest in Japan. Nature of Kagoshima 39: 113-118.
 * Hayashida K. 1961. Studies on the ecological distribution of ants in Sapporo and its vicinity (1 et 2). Insectes Sociaux 7: 125-162.
 * Hayashida K. 1964. Studies on the ecological distribution of ants in Kutchan and its adjacent area. Journal of the Sapporo Otani Junior College 2: 107-129.
 * Hayashida K. 1971. Vertical distribution of ants in the southern part of the Hidaka mountains. [In Japanese.]. Memoirs of the National Science Museum (Tokyo) 4:29-38.
 * Hosaka T., L. Di, K. Eguchi, and S. Numata. 2019. Ant assemblages on littered food waste and food removal rates in urban–suburban parks of Tokyo. Basic and Applied Ecology 37: 1–9.
 * Hosoishi S. 2006. Ant fauna of Noko Island. pp99-107. In: The floristic and faunistic surveys of the Noko Island.
 * Ichinose K. 1990. The Ant Fauna of the Tomakomai Experiment Forest, Hokkaido University (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with Notes on the Nuptial Season. Research Bulletins of College Experiment Forests 47(1) 137-144.
 * Ikeshita Y., A. Gotoh, K. Yamamoto, N. Taniguchi, and F. Ito. 2007. Ants collected in Mt. Linoyama, Marugame, Kagawa Prefecture (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Kagawa Seibutsu 34: 59-62.
 * Ito F. 2001. Notes on the distribution of the subgenus Dendrolasius in Kagawa Prefecture. Ari 25: 7-8.
 * Johnson R. Personnal Database. Accessed on February 5th 2014 at http://www.asu.edu/clas/sirgtools/resources.htm
 * Kawahara Y., S. Hosoyamada, and S. Yamane. 1999. Ant fauna of the Terayama Station for Education and Research on Nature, Kagoshima University. Bulletin of the Faculty of Education, Kagoshima University. Natural Science 50: 147-156.
 * Kim B.J. 1996. Synonymic list and distribution of Formicidae (Hymenoptera) in Korea. Entomological Research Bulletin Supplement 169-196.
 * Kim B.J., S.J. Park, and J.H. Kim. 1996. Ants from Naejangsan national park (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Korean J. Soil. Zoology &(2): 120-133.
 * Kim C.H.; Choi, B.M. 1987. On the kinds of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and vertical distribution in Jiri Mountain. Korean Journal of Plant Protection 26:123-132.
 * Kim K.I., C.H. Kim, and B. Choi. 1989. The ant fauna of the southern shore in Gyeongsangnamdo, Korea. Journal of Gyeongsang Nat. Univ. 28(2): 213-226.
 * Kondoh M., and Y. Kitazawa. 1984. Ant communities of the campus of UOEH and in an adjacent natural forest. Journal of UOEH 6(3): 221-234.
 * Kwon T. S. 2012. Korean ant atlas. Korea Forest Research Institute 162 pages.
 * Kwon T.S., C. M. Lee, J. H. Chun, J. H. Sung, and S. K. Kim. 2011. Ants in Hongneung forest. Korea Forest Research Institute, 92 pages.
 * Maeto K. and S. Sato. 2004. Impacts of forestry on ant species richness and composition in warm-temperate forests of Japan. Forest Ecology and Management 187: 213223.
 * Manabe K. 1994. Ants of the shrine forest in Fukuoka Prefecture (second report; ants of mountain zone). Ari 17: 8.
 * Mano T., and N. Kanie. 2004. Investigations of insects at Hirosawagawa river in the northern area of Toyota City (Aichi Prefecture). Yahagi research (?????) 8: 123-147.
 * Maruyama M., F. M. Steiner, C. Stauffer, T. Akino, R. H. Crozier, and B. C. Schlick-Steiner. 2008. A DNA and morphology based phylogenetic framework of the ant genus Lasius with hypotheses for the evolution of social parasitism and fungiculture. BMC Evolutionary Biology 8:Article 237 (doi:10.1186/1471-2148-8-237).
 * Matsumura S. and Yamane Sk. 2012. Species composition and dominant species of ants in Jigenji Park, Kagoshima City, Japan. Nature of Kagoshima 38: 99107
 * Matsumura S., and S. Yamane. 2012. Species composition and dominant species of ants in Jigenji Park, Kagoshima City, Japan. Nature of Kagoshima 38: 99-107.
 * Menozzi C. 1940. Contribution à la faune myrmécologique du Japon. Mushi. 13: 11-12.
 * Mizutani A. 1979. A myrmecofaunal survey at Hiyama Experiment Forest, Hokkaido University. Research Bulletin of the College Experiment Forests, Hokkaido University 36:509-516.
 * Mizutani A. 1979. A myrmecofaunal survey at Hiyama Experiment Forest, Hokkaido University. Research Bulletins of the College Experiment Forests Hokkaido University 36(2): 509-516.
 * Ogata K. 1981. The ant fauna of the Goto islands, Natural history of the Goto? Islands, Japan : Iki Tsushima to no taihi (Danjo Gunto? Ko?rai Sone o fukumu Japan: 347-351.
 * Ogata. K., Touyama, Y. and Choi, B. M. 1994. Ant fauna of Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. ARI Reports of the Myrmecologists Society (Japan) 18: 18-25
 * Paik W.H. 1984. A checklist of Formicidae (Hymenoptera) of Korea. Korean J. Plant Prot. 23(3): 193-195.
 * Park S. H., S. Hosoishi, K. Ogata, and Y. Kuboki. 2014. Clustering of ant communities and indicator species analysis using self-organizing maps. Comptes Rendus Biologies http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.crvi.2014.07.003
 * Park S.J., and B.J. Kim. 2002. Faunal comparison of ants among Cheongsando and other islands of South Sea in Korea. Korean Journal of Entomology 32(1): 7-12.
 * Park, Seong, Joon and Byung, and Kim, Jin. 2002. Faunal Comparison of Ants among Cheongsando and Other Islands of South Sea in Korea. Korean Jornal of Entomology. 32(1):7-12.
 * Radchenko A. 2005. A review of the ants of the genus Lasius Fabricius, 1804, subgenus Dendrolasius Ruzsky, 1912 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from east Palaearctic. Annales Zoologici (Warsaw) 55: 83-94.
 * Radchenko, A. 2005. Monographic revision of the ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of North Korea. Annales Zoologici 55(2): 127-221.
 * Sakai H. 2002. Reproductive flight season of Japanese ants. Ari 26: 33-39.
 * Shimana Y., and S. Yamane. 2009. Geogrpahical distribution of Technomyrmex brunneus Forel (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in the western part of the mainland of Kagoshima, South Kyushu, Japan. Ari 32: 9-19.
 * So, Ha, Seong, Jin, Park, Joon and Byung, and Kim, Jin. 2002. Comparitive Ant Faunas between Seonyudo and Seven other Islands of West Sea in Korea. Korean Journal of Entomology. 32:75-79.
 * Takechi F. 1960. A list of ants unrecorded from Mt. Ishizuchi and Omogo Valley, Iyo, Shikoku (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Transactions of the Shikoku Entomological Society 6:91.
 * Terayama M. 1977. Checklist of the known ants of Saitama Prefecture. Insects and nature 12(4): 26-27
 * Terayama M. 1978. Ants of Bukozan. Nature and insects 13(4): 32-34.
 * Terayama M. 1983. Kagoshima-ken-hondo no ari. Kanagawa-chucho (Journal of the Kanagawa Entomologists Association): 13-24.
 * Terayama M. 1992. Structure of ant communities in East Asia. A. Regional differences and species richness. Bulletin of the Bio-geographical Society of Japan 47: 1-31.
 * Terayama M. 1994. Ants of Okushiri-to Island, Hokkaido. Ari 18: 28-29.
 * Terayama M., K. Ogata, and B.M. Choi. 1994. Distribution records of ants in 47 prefectures of Japan. Ari (report of the Myrmecologists Society of Japan) 18: 5-17.
 * Terayama M., S. Kubota, and K. Eguchi. 2014. Encyclopedia of Japanese ants. Asakura Shoten: Tokyo, 278 pp.
 * Terayama M., and S. Kubota. 2002. Ants of Tokyo, Japan. ARI 26: 1-32.
 * Terayama. M. 1994. Ants of Okushiri-to Island, Hokkaido. ARI Reports of the Myrmecologists Society (Japan) 18: 28-29
 * Teruyama. M. 1988. Ant fauna of Saitama Prefecture, Japan. ARI Reports of the Myrmecologists Society (Japan) 16: 4-13
 * Wheeler W. M. 1928. Ants collected by Professor F. Silvestri in Japan and Korea. Bollettino del Laboratorio di Zoologia Generale e Agraria della Reale Scuola Superiore d'Agricoltura. Portici 22: 96-125.
 * Wilson E. O. 1955. A monographic revision of the ant genus Lasius. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 113: 1-201
 * Yamane S., Y. Harada, and K. Eguchi. 2013. Classification and ecology of ants. Natural history of ants in Southern Kyushu. 200 pages
 * Yamauchi K. 1979. Taxonomical and ecological studies on the ant genus Lasius in Japan (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). I. Taxonomy. Sci. Rep. Fac. Educ. Gifu Univ. (Nat. Sci.) 6: 147-181.
 * Yamauchi K., and K. Hayashida. 1968. Taxonomic studies on the genus Lasius in Hokkaido, with ethological and ecological notes (Formicidae, Hymenoptera). I. The subgenus Dendrolasius or Jet Black Ants. J. Fac. Sci. Hokkaido Univ. Ser. VI. Zool. 16: 396-412.
 * Yoshimura M. 1999. Ants in the island of Hokkaido (Part 2, Part Rebun) Ants from Islands in Hokkaido, Northern Japan (No. 2, Rebun-Island). Rishiri Studies 18: 49-54.
 * Yoshimura M., T. Hirata, A. Nakajima, and K. Onoyama. 2003. Ants found in scats and pellets taken from the nests of the Japanese Wryneck Jynx torquilla japonica. Ornithol. Sci. 2: 127-131.