Lasius cyperus

Known only from the type collection, a small series taken from a single nest. Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Seifert (2020) - Lasius cyperus is a sister species of Lasius platythorax and probably endemic to Cyprus. It differs from platythorax by the smaller postocular distance, the shorter and fewer scape setae, the yellowish component of body color, the extremely long setae on posterior margin of vertex, and the much less pubescent petiole scale.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Cyprus.

Nomenclature

 * . Lasius cyperus Seifert, 2020: 65, figs. 59-60 (w.) CYPRUS.

Description
Medium-sized (CS 894 µm). Head length index low (CL/CW900 1.058), scape short (SL/CS900 0.954), postocular distance rather small (PoOc/CL900 0.234); eye size rather small (EYE/CS900 0.229); terminal segment of maxillary of medium length (MP6/CS900 0.188). Number of mandibular dents medium (MaDe900 8.24). Pubescence on clypeus and on petiole scale extremely sparse (sqPDCL900 5.90). All body parts with very long and numerous standing setae (PnHL/CS900 0.172, GuHL/ CS900 0.138, nGu900 17.3, nHT900 27.5), those on hind margin of vertex extremely long, those on scape shorter and less numerous. Coloration: head, mesosoma, and gaster brown with a yellowish component. Scape and tibiae (in particular fore tibiae) yellowish.

See table 6 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 two paratype workers on the same pin labelled ”CYPERN – 11 Prov. Limassol, Platres 1200 mH Leg. Sanetra, 28.03.94“; 9 paratype workers on three other pins from the holotype nest with the same labelling; depository.

Etymology
The name refers to the terra typica Cyprus.