Lasius maltaeus

Lasius maltaeus is found over most of Sicily as well as Malta, while the closely related Lasius emarginatus replaces it in the north-eastern sector of the island, the nearby Aeolian Islands, and the Italian peninsula (Menchetti et al., 2023). Some of the material used in the original description was collected at the base of promenade wall.

Identification
Seifert (2020) - Lasius maltaeus shows by far the highest setae numbers within the L. emarginatus species complex and has the longest maxillary palp segment and largest head length index (Seifert 2020 Lasius characters).

Quantitative morphology and mtDNA data allow for the unambiguous distinction of L. emarginatus from L. maltaeus; see Menchetti et al. (2023) for details.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Italy, Malta.

Nomenclature

 * . Lasius maltaeus Seifert, 2020: 72, figs. 79-80 (w.) MALTA.

Worker
Absolute size medium to rather large (CS 948 µm). Head length index very large (CL/CW900 1.106), scape length index large (SL/CS900 1.067); postocular distance medium (PoOc/CL900 0.228), eye and torulo-clypeal distance large (EYE/CS900 0.247, dClAn900 5.20); terminal segment of maxillary palp longest within the Lasius emarginatus species complex (MP6/CS900 0.241). Number of mandibular dents above average (MaDe900 8.44). Pubescence on clypeus dilute (sqPDCL900 5.11); frontal pubescence short (PLF900 24.6). Most hairy species of the L. emarginatus species complex; number of setae on genae, gula, dorsum of scape and flexor profile of hind tibia extremely high (nOcc900 18.2, nGen900 13.0, nGu900 17.4, nSc900 30.1, nHT900 26.9). Coloration: all body parts orange colored, with dorsum of head sometimes slightly darker orange brown, gaster always darker orange brown.

See table 8 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 ”MALTA: 35.93°N, 14.35°E Ghajn Tuffieha, 40 m S.P. Schembri 1989.0503“; 3 paratype workers labelled ”MALTA: 3.859°N, 14.399°E Buskett, 185 m col. Collingwood 1983.11.30“; 3 paratype workers labelled ”MALTA: 35.897°N, 14.461°E Birkirkara, 35 m June 1978, No 55213“; 4 paratype workers labelled ”MALTA: 38.9157°N, 14.4980°E, Sliema, 15 m, base of promenade wall, P. Attewell 2019.06.06“; depository.

Etymology
The name refers to island of Malta where it is an endemic species.