Lasius israelicus

known from a small area of 6000 km² in north Israel and Jordan (West bank) at elevations between 205 and 662 m.

Identification
Palaearctic Lasius s. str. species belonging to the Lasius turcicus  species complex.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Israel.

Nomenclature

 * . Lasius israelicus Seifert, 2020: 54, figs. 21-22 (w.aq.m.) ISRAEL.

Worker
Belonging to the Lasius turcicus species complex. Body size rather large (CS 865 µm). Number of mandibular dents low (MaDe900 7.7). Clypeal pubescence dilute (sqPDCL900 5.44). Petiole scale in profile view rather thin with a sharp dorsal crest. Cuticular surface of head and mesosoma shining, with reduced microsculpture. Pubescence hairs on frons very long (PLF 38.4 µm). Not to confuse with other species of the L. turcicus species complex because of longer and much more numerous setae on all body parts with exception of scape (e.g., PnHL/CS900 0.147, nHT900 18.0) and much longer scape and terminal segment of maxillary palps (SL/CS900 0.996, MP6/CS900 0.216). Coloration variable: in bicolored specimens head and gaster dark brown; mesosoma, mandibles, antennae, lateral and anterior part of clypeus, tibiae and tarsae light yellowish-reddish; in more concolorous specimens head, mesosoma and gaster medium brown with a yellowish-reddish tinge.

See table 3 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 plus 2 paratype workers on one pin labelled ”ISRAEL Nahal ‚Ammud 32°58.50N 35°28.00E 28.v.1981 F. KAPLAN“, ”18.“; 1 male and 1 alate gyne paratype with the same labelling on another pin; 3 paratype workers labelled ”ISRAEL Hazbani 33°14.50N, 35°40.00E 24.iv.1982 J. KUGLER“; 2 paratype workers labelled ”ISRAEL Elon Nahal Keziv [Wadi Karkara] 33°04.00 N, 35°13.00E 3.iv. 1944 H. BYTINSKI-SALZ“; 3 paratype workers labelled ”ISRAEL Monfort 33.048N, 35.220E 10.iii. 1981 J. KUGLER“; depository.

Etymology
The name refers to the terra typica.