Lasius mauretanicus

Lasius mauretanicus behaves aggressively during disturbance of the nest. Alates were observed in the town of Agadir / Morocco in mid-May.

Identification
Seifert (2020) - Lasius mauretanicus differs from its sister species Lasius grandis by the longer terminal segment of maxillary palps, larger torulo-clypeal distance, higher clypeal pubescence density and more numerous genal and gular setae.

Distribution
Morocco and the Canaric Islands, from sea level up to 2800 m.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Canary Islands, Morocco.

Habitat
Seifert (2020) - At altitudes from sea level to 1600 m L. mauretanicus prefers moist and sheltered places such as Quercus, Salix, Castanea and Eucalyptus forests, Erica heather forest, Laurel forest or Pinus stands. At elevations above 1900 m it occurs in open pastures or grassland with spiny xerophytes or shrubs. In cities it occurs in shady gardens with trees.

Nomenclature

 * . Lasius mauretanicus Seifert, 2020: 68, figs. 67-68 (w.) CANARY IS.

Worker
A sister species of Lasius grandis. Absolute size medium to large (CS 943 µm). Head and scape length indices large (CL/ CW900 1.086, SL/CS900 1.035); postocular distance low (PoOc/ CL900 0.222); torulo-clypeal distance very large (dClAn900 5.41); eye size medium (EYE/CS900 0.242); terminal segment of maxillary palp very long (MP6/CS900 0.224). Number of mandibular dents large (MaDe900 8.55). Pubescence on clypeus dense (sqPDCL900 3.92); frontal pubescence short (PLF900 27.5). All body parts with very numerous and rather long standing setae (PnHL/CS900 0.151, GuHL/CS900 0.123, nGu900 16.3, nSc900 21.4, nHT900 22.5). Coloration: rather homogenously dark brown with the exception of the pale yellowish-brown mandibles, scapes and tibiae.

See table 7 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 5 paratype workers on two pins labelled ” SPA:28.795°N, 17.803°W La Palma: Los Sauces -5 km W, Los Tilos, 830 m leg. Seifert 1995.07.15“; depository.

Etymology
The name refers to ”Mauritania“, the Latin name for a region in the ancient Maghreb in which the new species is found.