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)

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.

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

Nomenclature

 *  ionia. Crematogaster scutellaris var. ionia Forel, 1911d: 340 (w.q.) TURKEY. Combination in C. (Acrocoelia): Emery, 1922e: 144; in C. (Crematogaster): Bolton, 1995b: 166. Raised to species: Agosti & Collingwood, 1987a: 54.

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.

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