Messor ceresis

The species was described from Lebanon and is evidently rather local (Collingwood and Agosti 1996). Pashaei Rad et al. (2018) found this species in Iran on parkland ground in a moderate rainfall area.

Identification
Collingwood and Agosti (1996) - HW 1.3-1.5; EL/HW 0.20-0.223. This is a small apparently monomorphic red species resembling some forms of Messor minor, differing in the coarser sculpture of the head and alitrunk, slightly larger eyes, stronger development of the psammophore, distinctly angulate propodeum and less variable size. There are 0-2 projecting hairs at each side on the occiput, two pairs each on the pronotum, petiole and postpetiole with a few hairs at the distal margin of the first gastral tergite. Head, alitrunk and nodes are entirely reddish.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Saudi Arabia. Palaearctic Region: Iran, Lebanon.

Nomenclature

 * . Messor ceresis Santschi, 1934d: 274 (w.) LEBANON.
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-locality: Lebanon: Beirut, 5.viii.1933 (F. Santschi).
 * Type-depository: NHMB.
 * Status as species: Bolton, 1995b: 253; Collingwood & Agosti, 1996: 316; Nezhad, et al. 2012: 68; Borowiec, L. 2014: 104.
 * Distribution: Iran, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
 * Pashaei Rad S., B. Taylor, R. Torabi, E. Aram, G. Abolfathi, R. Afshari, F. Borjali, M. Ghatei, F. Hediary, F. Jazini, V. Heidary Kiah, Z. Mahmoudi, F. Safariyan, and M. Seiri. 2018. Further records of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Iran. Zoology in the Middle East 64(2): 145-159.