Lasius kritikos

One sample was collected in a NW-facing Quercus forest, which is the only natural history information known about L. kritikos.

Identification
Palaearctic Lasius s. str. species belonging to the Lasius paralienus species complex.

Distribution
Known from the two type localities in Crete.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Greece.

Nomenclature

 * . Lasius kritikos Seifert, 2020: 60, figs. 39-40 (w.) GREECE.

Worker
Absolute size rather small (CS 866 µm). Scape and maxillary palp length indices high (SL/CS900 1.007, MP6/ CS900 0.217). Number of mandibular dents not recordable in the available material but MaDe900 predictably > 8. Clypeal pubescence very dense (sqPDCL900 3.36). Pronotal setae long (PnHL/CS900 0.155). Dorsum of scape, extensor profile of hind tibia and metapleuron below propodeal spiracle without or with very few semierect to erect setae (nSc900 0.9, nHT900 2.2, nSt900 1.6). Lasius kritikos shares with Lasius casevitzi the large SL/CS900 and MP6/ CS900 data but can be separated from the latter by the much lower setae numbers. Coloration: medium brown with a yellowish tinge, gaster a little lighter; mandibles antennae, tibiae and tarsae a pale yellowish brown.

See table 4 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 plus 2 paratype workers on the same pin labelled ”GREECE: 24.04—04.05.1992 Kreta, Ida Gebirge Nordseite, 1400-1500 mH, Leg. Schulz 640“; 3 paratype workers labelled ”GREECE: 24.04—04.05.1992 Kreta, Ida Gebirge Nordseite, 1300 mH, Leg. Schulz 644“; 6 paratype workers on Holotype plus 2 paratype workers on the same pin labelled ”GREECE: 24.04—04.05.1992 Kreta, Ida Gebirge Nordseite, 1400-1500 mH, Leg. Schulz 640“; 3 paratype workers labelled ”GREECE: 24.04—04.05.1992 Kreta, Ida Gebirge Nordseite, 1300 mH, Leg. Schulz 644“; 6 paratype workers on two pins labelled ”GR- Kreta, 3 km SW Omalos, 1400-1600m, Nordwesthang Eichenwald, Leg: Schulz 24.04-04.05.1992, 682“; depository.

Etymology
Derived from the Greek masculine word Κρήτήκος for an inhabitant of Crete.