Messor capitatus

A west-European ant, reported also from NW Africa (Rigato & Toni, 2011).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Balearic Islands, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Iberian Peninsula, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Nomenclature

 *  capitatus. Formica capitata Latreille, 1798: 46 (w.) FRANCE. Latreille, 1802c: 234 (q.); Mayr, 1855: 463 (m.). Combination in Manica: Jurine, 1807: 279; in Atta: Mayr, 1855: 462; in Aphaenogaster: Roger, 1863b: 29; in Stenamma (Messor): Forel, 1902a: 148; in Messor: Ruzsky, 1905b: 744. Junior synonym of barbarus: Smith, F. 1858b: 162; Emery & Forel, 1879: 461; Nasonov, 1889: 37. Subspecies of barbarus: Emery, 1891b: 12; Emery, 1908e: 449; Emery, 1921f: 69; Santschi, 1923f: 325; Santschi, 1925g: 342; Finzi, 1929: 80; Santschi, 1931a: 4. Status as species: Dalla Torre, 1893: 101; Bondroit, 1918: 153; Baroni Urbani, 1964b: 40; Bernard, 1967: 147; Baroni Urbani, 1968b: 427; Baroni Urbani, 1971c: 57; Schembri & Collingwood, 1981: 425. Senior synonym of nigra: Menozzi, 1921: 26; Emery, 1922c: 97; of galbula, huberiana: Emery, 1921f: 70.
 * huberiana. Formica huberiana Leach, 1825: 290 (w.q.m.) FRANCE. Junior synonym of barbarus: Mayr, 1863: 395; of capitatus: Emery, 1921f: 70.
 * galbula. Myrmica galbula Losana, 1834: 326, pl. 36, fig. 5 (w.) ITALY. Junior synonym of barbarus: Roger, 1863b: 29; of capitatus: Emery, 1921f: 70.
 * nigra. Aphaenogaster barbara var. nigra André, 1883b: 355 (w.q.) FRANCE. Emery, 1908e: 447 (m.). Combination in Stenamma (Messor): Ruzsky, 1902d: 28; in Messor: Emery, 1908e: 446. Junior synonym of capitatus: Menozzi, 1921: 26; Emery, 1922c: 97.

Additional References

 * Rigato, F.; Toni, I. 2011. Short notes 21. Hymenoptera, Formicidae. Pp. 873-882 in: Nardi, G.; Whitmore, D.; Bardiani, M.; Birtele, D.; Mason, F.; Spada, L.; Cerretti, P. (eds.) 2011. Biodiversity of Marganai and Montimannu (Sardinia). Research in the framework of the ICP Forests network. Conservazione Habitat Invertebrati, 5. Sommacampagna, Verona: Cierre Edizioni, 896 pp.