Messor wasmanni

This taxon belongs to a group of species widespread in the Middle East and Central Asia, where several to many still unreviewed forms occur. Its westernmost known range reaches Sardinia and Corsica. It is common in central and southern Italy, and in the Balkans (Rigato & Toni, 2011).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Iran, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Malta, Montenegro, Oman, Romania, Slovenia, Syrian Arab Republic, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Nomenclature

 *  wasmanni. Messor barbarus subsp. wasmanni Krausse, 1910: 524 (w.) ITALY (Sardinia). [Also described as new by Krausse, 1911: 15.] Finzi, 1929: 83 (q.); Finzi, 1933: 163 (m.). Subspecies of semirufus: Santschi, 1927c: 230; Finzi, 1928c: 788; Finzi, 1930d: 312; of meridionalis: Baroni Urbani, 1964b: 30; Baroni Urbani, 1968b: 434. Junior synonym of semirufus: Baroni Urbani, 1974: 227; of meridionalis: Collingwood, 1978: 68. Revived from synonymy and raised to species: Casevitz-Weulersse, 1990a: 154. Senior synonym of concolor: Collingwood & Agosti, 1996: 322.
 * concolor. Messor semirufus var. concolor Santschi, 1927c: 229 (s.w.m.) SYRIA. [First available use of Messor barbarus subsp. semirufus var. concolor Emery, 1908e: 448; unavailable name.] Subspecies of semirufus: Baroni Urbani, 1964a: 1. Junior synonym of semirufus: Baroni Urbani, 1974: 227. Revived from synonymy and raised to species: Tohmé, G. & Tohmé, H. 1981: 143. Junior synonym of wasmanni: Collingwood & Agosti, 1996: 322.

Additional References

 * Rigato, F.; Toni, I. 2011. Short notes 21. Hymenoptera, Formicidae. Pp. 873-882 in: Nardi, G.; Whitmore, D.; Bardiani, M.; Birtele, D.; Mason, F.; Spada, L.; Cerretti, P. (eds.) 2011. Biodiversity of Marganai and Montimannu (Sardinia). Research in the framework of the ICP Forests network. Conservazione Habitat Invertebrati, 5. Sommacampagna, Verona: Cierre Edizioni, 896 pp.