Lasius kabaki

The coordinates of the type collection suggest an affinity for woodland.

Distribution
High mountain range about 10 km S of Yanyuan at elevations between 3035 and 3435 m, above the elevation range of the sympatric Lasius sichuense and Lasius coloratus.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 * . Lasius kabaki Seifert, 2020: 77, figs. 99-100 (w.) CHINA.

Worker
Related to Lasius sichuense and Lasius coloratus. Smaller (CS 921 µm). Head length comparably large, scape length index smaller than in the other two species (CL/CW900 1.093, SL/CS900 0.989). Postocular distance slightly smaller and eye slightly larger (PoOc/CL900 0.241, EYE/CS900 0.245). Torulo-clypeal distance comparably large and terminal segment of maxillary palp shorter (dClAn900 5.04, MP6/CS900 0.178). Number of mandibular dents larger (MaDe900 8.67). Pubescence on clypeus much more dilute (sqPDCL900 5.80); frontal pubescence of medium length (PLF900 28.9). Setae of large to medium length (PnHL/CS900 0.160, GuHL/CS900 0.106) and overall rather numerous; on genae, underside of head and below propodeal spiracle more numerous than in L. sichuense (nGen900 7.6, nGu900 5.7, nSt900 4.9). Overall sculpture in comparison to L. sichuense and L. coloratus reduced and more shining. On dorsum of head a microreticulum is absent, the only elements of microsculpture are a number of very fine and short longitudinal carinulae and the shallow pits forming the bases of pubescence hairs. Sculpture on mesosoma reduced in comparison to sister species and metapleuron with much finer longitudinal carinulae. Lateral pronotum very shining. Scale in frontal view with more straight, dorsad less converging sides and straight or feebly emarginate dorsal crest. Coloration: homogeneously yellowish to chestnut brown.

Type Material
Holotype and 2 paratype workers on one pin labelled ”China, S Sichuan, S Yanyuan, N 27,359, E 101,507, 3035 m asl, 2010-06-29, leg. Belousov & Kabak, Chi 2010 102“; 3 paratype workers labelled ”China, S Sichuan, S Yanyuan, N 27,359, E 101,507, 3035 m asl, 2010-06-29, leg. Belousov & Kabak, Chi 2010 022“; 3 paratype workers labelled ”China, S Sichuan, S Yanyuan, N 27,3461, E 101,5117, 3435 m asl, 2010-06- 30, leg. Belousov & Kabak, Chi 2010 159“; 3 paratype workers labelled ”China, S Sichuan, S Yanyuan, N 27,351, E 101,509, 3290 m asl, 2010-06-19, leg. Belousov & Kabak, Chi 2010 275“; depository.

Etymology
The name refers to the collector of the type specimens, the Russian naturalist Ilya Igorevitsh Kabak