Crematogaster ionia

There are only scarce data about the ecology of this species. We found them in mixed and pine forests, nesting under the stones or in humus, at the base of shrubs. Other authors (Forel, 1911; Müller, 1923; Zimmermann, 1934) found this species mostly in tree cavities. Workers are generalized omnivores. (Karaman 2010)

Borowiec (2014) notes that this species needs revision as recent collections suggest it is a complex of closely related taxa.

Identification
A member of the Crematogaster scutellaris group.

Karaman (2010) - TL= 4.2-5.0 mm. Body sculpture and hairiness are the same as in Crematogaster schmidti. Exception is the frontal triangle which is not completely smooth, but striated with 3-4 longitudinal striae. The head, thorax, appendages and petiole nodes dark reddish to brown, the head occiput and the first segment of the funiculus dark brown. Gaster dark-brown to black.

Distribution
Karaman (2010) - Northern and eastern bank of Mediterranean Sea including islands in Aegean Sea. Altitude: 0-230 m a.s.l.

This is a common species, known from all Greek provinces, but our unpublished data on molecular variability of Greek populations showed that with great probability in this area occur three cryptic taxa. Their taxonomic status will be clarified after analysis or all studied samples (Borowiec et al., 2022).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Israel, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Turkey.

Nomenclature

 * . Crematogaster scutellaris var. ionia Forel, 1911d: 340 (w.q.) TURKEY, GREECE.
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-localities: Turkey: Boudja, nr Smyrna (= Izmir), iv.-v.1910 (A. Forel), Coccarinali, nr Smyrna (= Izmir), iv.-v.1910 (A. Forel), Turkey: Izmid (Bithynia), iv.-v.1910 (A. Forel), Greece: Aivaly Peninsula, nr Mitylene, iv.-v.1910 (A. Forel), Greece: Kephirissa, nr Athens, iv.-v.1910 (A. Forel), Greece: Patras, iv.-v.1910 (A. Forel), Greece: Corfu I., iv.-v.1910 (A. Forel).
 * Type-depository: MHNG.
 * [Misspelled as jonia by Finzi, 1928c: 789.]
 * Combination in C. (Acrocoelia): Emery, 1922e: 144;
 * combination in C. (Crematogaster): Bolton, 1995b: 166.
 * As unavailable (infrasubspecific) name: Emery, 1912e: 656; Emery, 1915h: 1; Wheeler, W.M. & Mann, 1916: 170; Emery, 1922e: 144; Soudek, 1925b: 16; Santschi, 1926f: 287; Menozzi, 1928a: 127; Menozzi, 1933b: 61 (in key); Santschi, 1934d: 276; Menozzi, 1936d: 283; Santschi, 1937e: 311 (in key); Finzi, 1939c: 155.
 * Subspecies of scutellaris: Forel, 1913d: 430; Finzi, 1928c: 789; Finzi, 1930d: 313.
 * Subspecies of schmidti: Hamann & Klemm, 1976: 672.
 * Status as species: Agosti & Collingwood, 1987a: 54; Agosti & Collingwood, 1987b: 272 (in key); Kugler, J. 1988: 258; Collingwood, 1993b: 194; Bolton, 1995b: 155; Bračko, 2006: 135; Petrov, 2006: 94 (in key); Karaman, M.G. 2008: 20 (in key); Vonshak, et al. 2009: 42; Karaman, M.G. 2010: 428 (redescription); Karaman, M.G. 2011b: 23; Legakis, 2011: 13; Borowiec, L. & Salata, 2012: 488; Kiran & Karaman, 2012: 18; Borowiec, L. 2014: 66; Tohmé, G. & Tohmé, 2014: 135; Lebas, et al. 2016: 274; Borowiec, L. & Salata, 2018: 5; Salata & Borowiec, 2018c: 44; Borowiec, L. & Salata, 2020: 8.
 * Distribution: Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Montenegro, Serbia, Syria, Turkey.

Taxonomic Notes
Eastern populations of this species differ slightly from western ones and with great probability this taxon is a complex of two cryptic taxa. Until the revision of this species group the name C. ionia has been used for material from Jordan (Borowiec & Salata, 2020).

Worker
Karaman (2010) - TL 5.0mm, 4.9mm, 4.8mm; HW 1147.0, 1117.95, 989.75; HL 1063.75, 989.45, 948.12; CI 107.83, 112.98, 104.39; SL 823.02, 835.25, 758.6; SI 71.77, 74.71, 76.64; LM 1271.87, 1182.2, 1036; PS 231.25, 185.00, 171.13; A10 314.5, 333.0, 272.87; A9 171.13, 180.38, 161.87; A8 124.87, 134.12, 111.00; DBT 592.0, 518.0, 444.00; PW 411.63, 411.63, 333.00; PPW 337.62, 323.75, 291.37; PI 121.92, 127.14, 114.29; PPI 29.43, 28.96, 29.44; PnW 578.14, 568.87, 499.25.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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