Crematogaster afghanica

Pashaei Rad et al. (2018) found this species in Iran in a parkland in a moderate rainfall area.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Afghanistan, Iran.

Nomenclature

 * . Crematogaster afghanica Pisarski, 1967: 389, figs. 23-25 (w.) AFGHANISTAN.
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 121 paratype workers.
 * Type-locality: holotype Afghanistan: Sang-Novichtéch (A400), Kabul, 3.iv.1958 (K. Lindberg); paratypes: 48 workers with same data, 14 workers Kabul (A400), Mt Cher Dervazéh, 20.ix.1957 (K. Lindberg), 19 workers Paghman (A257), 2225 m., 16.vii.1957 (K. Lindberg), 9 workers Qal’éh Lakou (A414), nr Kabul Valley, 7.vii.1957 (K. Lindberg), 7 workers Kaméh Zevah (A429), nr Ibrahim Khel, S Djelalabad, 23.i.1958 (K. Lindberg), 23 workers Kouh Chigui (A439), Laghman, 45 km. NE Djelalabad, 1370 m., 31.i.1958 (K. Lindberg), 1 worker Tangi Gharuh, Kabul River, 1600 m., 21.x.1952 (J. Klapperich).
 * Type-depositories: ZMLS (holotype); HNHM, MIZW, ZMLS (paratypes).
 * Combination in C. (Crematogaster): Bolton, 1995b: 166.
 * Status as species: Pisarski, 1970: 308; Bolton, 1995b: 146.
 * Distribution: Afghanistan.

Taxonomic Notes
Pashaei Rad et al. (2018): Type location Afghanistan, FOCOL1798-1. A comparison of the type images strongly suggest that C. afghanica may be a simple junior synonym of Crematogaster auberti. Pisarski (1967) did not mention C. auberti apparently basing his separation on a comparison with Crematogaster sorokini. That also, however, seems almost indistinguishable from C. auberti and was described originally as a variety of C. auberti.