Messor variabilis

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan.

Nomenclature

 * . Messor variabilis Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1927a: 94 (w.) TURKMENISTAN.
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-localities: Turkmenistan: Railway station Geok-Tepe, Geok-Syur, Dort-Kuju, Ashgabat, Takir, Bagir village nr Ashgabat (no collector’s name, perhaps Kuznetsov-Ugamsky).
 * Type-depository: ZMUM.
 * Arnol'di, 1970a: 87 (m.).
 * Status as species: Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929d: 10; Pisarski, 1970: 307; Arnol'di, 1970a: 87; Arnol'di, 1977b: 1646 (in key); Dlussky, 1981a: 17; Dlussky, Soyunov & Zabelin, 1990: 228; Bolton, 1995b: 258; Paknia, et al. 2010: 33; Borowiec, L. 2014: 114; Khalili-Moghadam, et al. 2019: 177.
 * Senior synonym of macrops: Arnol'di, 1977b: 1646 (in key); Bolton, 1995b: 258.
 * Distribution: Afghanistan, Iran, Turkmenistan.
 * macrops. Messor excursionis var. macrops Santschi, 1927d: 248 (w.) TURKMENISTAN.
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-locality: Turkmenistan: Repetek (W. Karawajew).
 * Type-depository: NHMB.
 * [Note: this taxon is based on specimens of M. excursionis (Rusky, 1905b: 739), sensu Karavaiev, 1910b: 68, misidentification.]
 * Junior synonym of variabilis: Arnol'di, 1977b: 1646 (in key); Bolton, 1995b: 255.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
 * Dlussky G. M., O. S. Soyunov, and S. I. Zabelin. 1990. Ants of Turkmenistan. Ashkabad: Ylym Press, 273 pp.
 * Khalili-Moghadam A., L. Borowiec, and A. Nemati. 2019. New records of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari Province of Iran with taxonomic comments. Polish Journal of Entomology 88 (2): 163–182.
 * Paknia O., and M. Pfeiffer. 2011. Hierarchical partitioning of ant diversity: implications for conservation of biogeographical diversity in arid and semi-arid areas. Diversity and Distributions 17: 122-131.
 * Paknia O., and M. Pfeiffer. 2014. Niche-based processes and temporal variation of environment drive beta diversity of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in dryland ecosystems of Iran. Myrmecological News 20: 15-23.
 * Paknia, O., A. G. Radchenko, and M. Pfeiffer. "New records of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Iran." Asian Myrmecology 3, no. 29-38 (2010).