Plagiolepis schmitzii

This ant has been associated with the butterflies Glaucopsyche alexis, Pseudophilotes abencerragus and  Leptotes pirithous (Obregon et al. 2015).

Identification
Sharaf et al. (2011) - As Forel (1895) stated in his original description that the sides of the head are less convex than the other species. Other specimens from Spain and Madeira are illustrated by Taylor & Sharaf (2007). Those are a darker red-brown than the, probably faded, syntype.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Saudi Arabia. Palaearctic Region: Algeria, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Gibraltar, Iberian Peninsula, Iran, Portugal, Republic of Macedonia, Spain, Tunisia.

Nomenclature

 *  schmitzii. Plagiolepis pygmaea var. schmitzii Forel, 1895d: 231 (w.q.) PORTUGAL (Madeira I.). Santschi, 1911i: 286 (m.). Raised to species: Santschi, 1920g: 168. Senior synonym of barbara, crosi: Collingwood, 1978: 71; of madeirensis: Wetterer, Espadaler, et al. 2007: 20. Current subspecies: nominal plus canariensis, tingitana. See also: Sharaf, Aldawood & Taylor, 2011: 208.
 * barbara. Plagiolepis pygmaea var. barbara Santschi, 1911i: 286 (w.m.) TUNISIA. Santschi, 1920g: 172 (q.). Raised to species: Santschi, 1920g: 172. Junior synonym of schmitzii: Collingwood, 1978: 71.
 * crosi. Plagiolepis schmitzi st. crosi Santschi, 1920g: 168, fig. 1 (w.q.) ALGERIA. Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1953c: 135 (l.). Raised to species: Emery, 1925b: 20; Santschi, 1931a: 10. Junior synonym of schmitzii: Collingwood, 1978: 71.
 * madeirensis. Plagiolepis barbara var. madeirensis Emery, 1921d: 315, fig. I (w.) PORTUGAL (Madeira I.). Subspecies of schmitzii: Bolton, 1995b: 335. Junior synonym of schmitzii: Wetterer, Espadaler, et al. 2007: 20.

Worker
Sharaf et al. (2011) - Syntype. TL 2.1, HL 0.50, HW 0.46, SL 0.46, EL 0.13, SI 100, CI 92, PRW 0.30, ML 0.60.

Redescription of Worker. Body dirty yellow, gaster yellowish brown, antennae and legs clear yellow. Head longer than broad and with clearly convex sides. Posterior margin of head distinctly concave with rounded corners. Eyes conspicuously large (EL 0.13) with 12 ommatidia in the longest row and occupying about quarter of head sides. All funicular segments clearly longer than broad. Second funicular segment distinctly shorter than the third. Fourth funicular segment 1.5 times longer than the third. Scapes in full-face view surpassing occiput by ca 0.25 of own length. Mesosoma in dorsal view elongated. Whole body and antennae with relatively dense appressed yellow pubescence. Gaster with well spaced and quite thick long hairs situated on posterior margins of all tergites.

Type Material
Sharaf et al. (2011) - Syntype worker: Madeira, Serra d’Agua (P. E. Schmitz) [examined].