Aphaenogaster balcanica

On Lesbos observed in open, sunny locations: fields with scattered shrubs and urban areas. Nest in soil, mostly sheltered by stones. Workers are individually foraging on the ground, in herbs and bases of trees and shrubs. Foraging behavior can be described as cautious. Fast moving after disturbance. Evacuation of the nest population is observed after heavy rainfall. (Boer 2013)

Identification
A member of the A. testaceopilosa group. Boer (2013) - Workers. Similar to Aphaenogaster balcanicoides and Aphaenogaster melitensis. Aphaenogaster balcanicoides and A. melitensis are more setose on the petioles and have shorter setae. The SI/CI and the PPPI are significantly lower than in A. karpathica (p < 0.01), the RPH is significantly higher than in A. balcanicoides (p < 0.04), and lower than in A. melitensis (p < 0.01). Gynes. Punctation stronger than in A. melitensis.


 * Key to European Aphaenogaster workers

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy , Malta, Slovenia, Turkey.

Nomenclature

 * . Stenamma (Aphaenogaster) testaceopilosa var. balcanica Emery, 1898c: 136 (w.) GREECE.
 * Menozzi, 1936d: 271 (q.m.l.); Boer, 2013: 66 (q.m.).
 * Combination in Aphaenogaster: Forel, 1911d: 346.
 * As unavailable (infrasubspecific) name: Emery, 1915a: 257; Emery, 1910b: 13; Emery, 1915h: 1; Emery, 1921b: 208; Emery, 1921f: 63; Finzi, 1922: 119; Finzi, 1928c: 787; Finzi, 1930d: 312.
 * Subspecies of testaceopilosa: Emery, 1901e: 57; Forel, 1911d: 346; Cori & Finzi, 1931: 238; Hamann & Klemm, 1976: 670.
 * Subspecies of simonellii: Santschi, 1933c: 390; Santschi, 1934d: 273; Grandi, 1935: 99; Menozzi, 1936d: 270; Finzi, 1939c: 153; Aktaç, 1977: 119.
 * Status as species: Agosti & Collingwood, 1987a: 53; Agosti & Collingwood, 1987b: 269 (in key); Collingwood, 1993b: 194; Bolton, 1995b: 68; Petrov, 2006: 90 (in key); Legakis, 2011: 6; Borowiec, L. & Salata, 2012: 463; Kiran & Karaman, 2012: 16; Boer, 2013: 65 (redescription); Borowiec, L. 2014: 9; Lebas, et al. 2016: 250; Borowiec, L. & Salata, 2018: 3; Salata & Borowiec, 2018c: 42.
 * Senior synonym of ionia Santschi: Boer, 2013: 65.
 * Senior synonym of ionia Baroni Urbani: Boer, 2013: 65 (by implication).
 * ionia. Aphaenogaster semipolita var. ionia Santschi, 1933c: 390.
 * [First available use of Aphaenogaster testaceopilosa subsp. semipolita var. ionia Emery, 1915a: 257 (in text) (w.) ITALY; unavailable (infrasubspecific) name.]
 * [Misspelled as jonia by Emery, 1921f: 63.]
 * As unavailable (infrasubspecific) name: Emery, 1916b: 131; Emery, 1921f: 63; Soudek, 1925b: 14; Kutter, 1927: 98; Finzi, 1930d: 312.
 * Subspecies of semipolita: Baroni Urbani, 1971c: 43.
 * Status as species: Schembri & Collingwood, 1981: 423; Bolton, 1995b: 70; Poldi, et al. 1995: 3; Bračko, 2006: 135; Bračko, 2007: 17; Lush, 2009: 114; Legakis, 2011: 7; Borowiec, L. & Salata, 2012: 465; Kiran & Karaman, 2012: 16.
 * Junior synonym of balcanica: Boer, 2013: 65.

Description
Boer (2013):

Worker
Lateral sides of mesosoma with (not always distinct) longitudinal rugulae. Dorsal side of pronotum more or less scabriculous. Propodeum with or without transverse rugulae. Head in full-face view with distinct longitudinal rugulae with cross-connections. Dorsal side of postpetiole with longitudinal costulae which are continuing in microstriae on dorsal part of gastral base. Head in full-face view, mesosoma, lateral sides of petioles and dorsal side of petiolar node punctate. Terminal side of propodeum, beneath the propodeal spines weakly punctate to smooth. Dorsal side of postpetiole more or less weakly punctate. Head in full-face view and mesosoma matt with some shine from the punctation. Terminal side of the propodeum, lateral sides of gaster, legs and petioles glossy. Dorsal side of postpetiole and gaster satiny to glossy. Antennal club 4-segmented. Petiole equal in height to postpetiole or somewhat higher. Lateral shape of petiole variable, in general anterior side steeper than posterior side.

Measurements (n = 67). CI 72–80 (75); CL 1.14–1.57 (1.43) mm; CW 0.84–1.25 (1.09) mm; PHI 29–35 (31); PI 67–88 (78); PPPI 43–58, 64 (52); PSI 100–200 (156); PSLWI 83–145 (115); PWI 19–27 (22); RPH 117–161 (138); RPSI 18–67 (42); SI 133–161 (149); SI/CI 163–227 (197); SL 1.27–1.77 (1.60) mm; SPD 1–3 (1.4); 1–5.5 (3.3).

Queen
Longitudinal rugulae on: clypeus, head anterior to the occiput, mesoscutum and posterior side of postpetiole. Occiput indistinctly scabriculous. Transverse rugulae on pronotum and propodeum. Scutellum with oblique and transverse rugulae. Head, mesosoma and petioles punctate. Less than ten transverse microstriae present near base of first gastral tergite. Anterior side of the petiole smooth. Head, mesosoma and petioles shiny, dorsum gaster shiny satin. Terminal side of propodeum, beneath the propodeal spines mainly smooth and shiny. Antennal club 4-segmented. Scutellum rises less above mesoscutum and does not bend over metanotum.

Measurements (n = 1). CI 86; CL 1.50 mm; CW 1.30 mm; OCI 32; PHI 42; PI 70; PPPI 63; PSI 209; PSLWI: 110; PWI 28; RPH 150; RPSI 57; SI 119; SI/CI: 138; SL 1.38 mm; SPD 1; SPL 4.

Male
Weakly rugulate on mesosoma, not on mesopleura. Metanotum indistinctly striate. Punctation on head, mesosoma and dorsal sides of petioles. Lateral sides of petioles and gaster smooth. Dorsal side of gaster microreticulated, without or with very short microstriae on dorsal side of base of first gastral tergite. Head, pronotum, mesoscutum and scutellum matt, rest of body, especially some of the lateral parts of the mesosoma and the petioles glossy. Pubescence on scape and hind tibia subdecumbent to suberect, shorter than diameter of scape/tibia. Mandibles with one apical tooth, tooth 2 and or 3 smaller, 4–5 denticles. A transverse groove in middle of propodeal dorsum, so the terminal part of the propodeum is raised. Propodeum with two terminal knobs, triangular projections, slightly dentate or with short spines. Between these a weak longitudinal groove. Antennal club 5-segmented. Head without clear frontal midline. Scutellum slightly erect above mesoscutum, in whole or in part bent over metanotum.

Measurements (n = 10). CI 86–92 (90); CL 0.84–0.94 (0.89) mm; CW 0.75–0.87 (0.80) mm; EYI 38–44 (41); OCI 44–52 (48); SL/CL 42–49 (47); SL 0.37–0.46 (0.42) mm.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Agosti, D. and C.A. Collingwood. 1987. A provisional list of the Balkan ants (Hym. Formicidae) and a key to the worker caste. I. Synonymic list. Mitteilungen der Schweizerischen Entomologischen Gesellschaft, 60: 51-62
 * Aktaç, N. "Studies on the myrmecofauna of Turkey I. Ants of Siirt, Bodrum and Trabzon." Istanbul Universitesi Fen Fakultesi Mecmuasi. Seri B 41 (1977): 115-135.
 * Boer P. 2013. Revision of the European ants of the Aphaenogaster testaceopilosa-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 156: 57-93.
 * Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
 * Borowiec L., and S. Salata. 2012. Ants of Greece - Checklist, comments and new faunistic data (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus 23(4): 461-563.
 * Borowiec L., and S. Salata. 2017. Ants of the Peloponnese, Greece (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Polish Journal of Entomology 86: 193-236.
 * Borowiec L., and S. Salata. 2018. Notes on ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Samos Island, Greece. Annals of the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom Entomology 27: 1-13.
 * Borowiec L., and S. Salata. 2018. Notes on ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Euboea Island, Central Greece. Annals of the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom Entomology 27(5): 1-15.
 * Bracko G. 2007. Checklist of the ants of Slovenia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Natura Sloveniae 9: 15-24
 * Bracko, G. 2006. Review of the ant fauna (Hymenoptera:Formicidae) of Croatia. Acta Entomologica Slovenica 14(2): 131-156.
 * Bracko, G. "Review of the ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Croatia." Acta Entomologica Slovenica Vol 14 st (2006): 131-156.
 * Cagniant H., and A. Ledoux. 1974. Nouvelle description d'Aphaenogaster senilis sur des exemplaires de la région de Banyuls-sur-Mer (P.-O.), France. Vie et Milieu. Série C. Biologie Terrestre 24: 97-110.
 * Collingwood, C. A. 1993. A Comparitive Study of the Ant Fauna of Five Greek Islands. Biologia Gallo-hellenica. 20,1:191-197
 * Collingwood, C. A. "A comparative study of the ant fauna of five Greek islands." Biologia Gallo-Hellenica 20 (1993): 191-197.
 * Czechowski W., A. Radchenko, W. Czechowska and K. Vepsäläinen. 2012. The ants of Poland with reference to the myrmecofauna of Europe. Fauna Poloniae 4. Warsaw: Natura Optima Dux Foundation, 1-496 pp
 * DeMarco B. B., and A. I. Cognato. 2015. Phylogenetic analysis of Aphaenogaster supports the resurrection of Novomessor (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 1–10.
 * Emery C. 1916. Fauna entomologica italiana. I. Hymenoptera.-Formicidae. Bullettino della Società Entomologica Italiana 47: 79-275.
 * Emery, C. "Beiträge zur Kenntniss der palaearktischen Ameisen." Öfversigt af Finska Vetenskaps-Societetens Förhandlingar (Helsinki) 20 (1898): 124-151.
 * Emery, C. "Escursioni zoologiche del Dr. Enrico Festa nell'Isola di Rodi. XII. Formiche." Bollettino del Museo di Zoologia ed Anatomia Comparatadella Reale Università di Torino 30 (1915): 1-7.
 * Emery, C. "Spicilegio mirmecologico." Bollettino della Societa Entomologica Italiana 33 (1901): 57-63.
 * Forel A. 1911. Fourmis nouvelles ou intéressantes. Bull. Soc. Vaudoise Sci. Nat. 47: 331-400.
 * Gomez K. 2017. Two species of exotic ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) new to Malta. Boletin de la Sociedad Entomologica Aragonesa (S.E.A.) 61: 233-235.
 * Hamann H. H. F., and W. Klemm. 1976. Ergebnisse der von Dr. O. Paget und Dr. E. Kritscher auf Rhodos durchgeführten zoologischen Exkursionen. XVI. Formicidae. Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien 80: 669-679.
 * Karaman C., K. Kiran, V. Aksoy, and Y. Camlitepe. 2017. A new species of the genus Camponotus (Mayr) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Turkey. Turkish Journal of Zoology 41: 998-1004.
 * Kiran K., and C. Karaman. 2012. First annotated checklist of the ant fauna of Turkey (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 3548: 1-38.
 * Legakis A. 1983. The Zoological Museum of the University of Athens 2. The collection of ants from Greece. Biologia Gallo-Hellenica 11(1): 85-87.
 * Legakis Collection Database
 * Lush M. J. 2009. Some ant records (Hymenoptera; Formicidae) from the Middle East. Zoology in the Middle East 47: 114-116.
 * Lush M.J. 2009. Some ant records (Hymenoptera; Formicidae) from the Middle East. Zoology in the Middle East 47: 114-116.
 * Mayr, G. "Formicina austriaca. Beschreibung der bisher im österreichischen Kaiserstaate aufgefundenen Ameisen, nebst Hinzufügung jener in Deutschland, in der Schweiz und in Italien vorkommenden Arten." Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Vereins in Wien 5 (1855): 273-478.
 * Menozzi C. 1929. Ricerche faunistiche nelle isole italiane dell'Egeo. Imenotteri (formiche). Archivio Zoologico Italiano. 13: 145-146.
 * Müller, G. "Le formiche della Venezia Guilia e della Dalmazia." Bollettino della Società Adriatica di Scienze Naturali in Trieste 28 (1923): 11-180.
 * Petrov I. Z., and C. A. Collingwood. 1992. Survey of the myrmecofauna (Formicidae, Hymenoptera) of Yugoslavia. Archives of Biological Sciences (Belgrade) 44: 79-91.
 * Poldi B., M. Mei, and F. Rigato. 1995. Hymenoptera, Formicidae. Vol 102. Checklist delle specie della fauna Italiana: 1-10.
 * Salata S., and L Borowiec. 2017. Species of Tetramorium semilaeve complex from Balkans and western Turkey, with description of two new species of (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Annales Zoologici (Warsaw) 62:279–313.
 * Salata S., and L. Borowiec. 2018. Taxonomic and faunistic notes on Greek ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Annals of the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom Entomology 27: 1-51.
 * Salata S., and L. Borowiec. 2019. Preliminary division of not socially parasitic Greek Temnothorax Mayr, 1861 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) with a description of three new species. ZooKeys 877: 81-131.
 * Santschi, F. "Fourmis d'une croisière." Bulletin et Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique (Bruxelles) 74 (1934): 273-282.
 * Schembri, Stephen P. and Cedric A. Collingwood. A Revision of the Myrmecofauna of the Maltese Islands. 417-442.
 * Vogrin, V. "Prilog fauni Hymenoptera - Aculeata Jugoslavije." Zast. Bilja 31(suppl.) (1955): 1-74.
 * Zimmermann, S. "Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Ameisenfauna Süddalmatiens." Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanisch Gesellschaft in Wien 84 (1935): 1-65.