Lasius sichuense

The species was always connected to woodland both in continental China and in Taiwan but occurs at significantly higher elevations than L. coloratus (Seifert 2020).

Distribution
Seifert (2020) - Distributed over the Chinese provinces Yunnan, Sichuan and Shaanxi from 24.86°N, 98.76°E to 32.0°N, 109.1°E. The elevation of 13 sites was 2154 ± 357 [1400, 2710] m.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 * . Lasius sichuense Seifert, 2020: 76, figs. 97-98 (w.) CHINA.

Worker
Sister species of Lasius coloratus. Rather large (CS 1005 µm). Head length rather large (CL/CW900 1.083), scape shorter than in L. coloratus (SL/CS900 0.999). Postocular distance large (PoOc/CL900 0.250), torulo-clypeal distance smaller than in L. coloratus (dClAn900 4.90); terminal segment of maxillary palp long (MP6/CS900 0.200). Number of mandibular low (MaDe900 7.93). Pubescence on clypeus denser than in L. coloratus (sqPDCL900 4.23); frontal pubescence of medium length (PLF900 29.1). Pubescence surface on body and appendages rough. Setae significantly shorter and fewer than in L. coloratus (PnHL/CS900 0.135, GuHL/CS900 0.084, nOcc900 10.2, nGen900 2.6, nGu900 2.9, nSc900 9.4, nHT900 12.1). Sculpture on metapleuron and lower propodeum similar to situation in L. coloratus. Coloration similar to L. coloratus but in the average slightly darker.

See table 10 in Seifert 2020 for additional morphometrics. The abbreviated names of various quantitative data shown above are defined here: Seifert 2020 Lasius characters.

Type Material
Holotype and 2 paratype workers on one pin labelled ”China, Sichuan, NW Jiuxiangzhen, N 29,562, E 102,336, 2615 m asl, 2009-07-10, leg. Kabak, Chi 2009 221a“; 3 paratype workers on one pin labelled ”China, Sichuan, NW Jiuxiangzhen, N 29,564, E 102,336, 2710 m asl, 2009-07-10, leg. Kabak, Chi 2009 204“; depository.

Etymology
The name refers to the type locality in the Chinese province Sichuan.