Lasius bombycina

The main habitats are different kinds of xerothermous grassland, but in Turkey this species was also found in an urban garden. It frequently builds more hidden soil nests but in the steppes of the Neusiedler See region conspicuous soil mounds overgrown by herbs were observed which seems to be a difference to Lasius paralienus. Over the whole range, alates are observed inside the nests or swarming rather late: 9 September ± 26 d [1 August – 21 October] n=7. Oviposition of foundresses usually does not start before the next spring and workers develop until July. Gynes are on average larger than in Lasius alienus and Lasius psammophilus. In a laboratory nest, a founding gyne reared 26 workers without feeding (Andrasfalvy 1961; named by Andrasfalvy "Lasius alienus", recent determination as L. bombycina by geographic indication, swarming time and verbal description). Above-ground foraging was observed on the soil surface, in the herb layer and on bushes. There is trophobiosis with subterranean and epigaean Aphidae and tending of Lycaenidae caterpilars (Plebeijus sephirus, Plebeijus argus). Lasius bombycina is zoophagous on small invertebrates.

Identification
Seifert and Galkowski (2016) - The species of the Lasius paralienus complex are separable from related species by the combination of low clypeal pubescence distance, low setae numbers on scape and differences in length of maxillary palp segments. Lasius alienus, Lasius psammophilus and Lasius piliferus are the most similar species occurring within the geographic range of the three L. paralienus complex species. L. alienus differs from the other five species by having strongly reduced setae numbers on the metapleuron below the level of the propodeal spiracle. A safe separation of individual workers is possible by a discriminant function considering head width, the length of the terminal maxillary palp segment and clypeal pubescence distance.

Distribution
L. bombycina has a meridional to submeridional Balkanian-Anatolian distribution. The most northwestern point of its range is in E Austria (48.0°N, 16.7°E). In Asia Minor it goes east to 44°E at least and shows here a very wide altitudinal range from sea level to 2350 m (at 40.6°N). Sympatric occurrence with Lasius paralienus is known so far only in the NW Balkans and Bulgaria.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Slovenia, Turkey.

Nomenclature

 *  bombycina. Lasius bombycina Seifert & Galkowski, 2016:, figs. 6, 10-12 (w.q.m.) TURKEY.

Worker
Numeric data given in the following description are primary data (without removal of allometric variance) of 50 measured individuals.

Rather large compared to related species, CS 893 ± 68 [744,1076] μm. Basic morphology not different from other members of the Lasius alienus group. Head moderately elongated, with convex sides and straight posterior margin of vertex, CL/CW 1.077 ± 0.017 [1.043,1.112]. Scape rather short: SL/CS 0.970 ± 0.018 [0.932,1.008]. Eye medium-sized and moderately distant from posterior margin of head: EYE/CS 0.238 ± 0.007 [0.223,0.253], PoOc/ CL 0.239 ± 0.008 [0.224,0.257]. Antennal socket situated rather close to posterior clypeal margin: dCLAn/CS 4.34 ± 0.35 [3.75,5.07]%. Masticatory border of mandibles with 8-9 teeth. Maxillary palps with six segments and comparably short: MP6/CS 0.160 ± 0.009 [0.143,0.176]. Pubescence on whole body surfaces very dense and whitish, sqPDCL 3.42 ±0.23 [3.05,3.98]. Mean length of pubescence hairs between frontal carinae 33.9 ± 2.38 [29.9,35.8] μm. Pilosity compared to next related species long. Eyes with rather many microsetae of 23.1 ± 1.98 [18,25] μm length (these unusually long microsetae are perhaps diagnostic but this was not thoroughly checked). Dorsal plane of scape with no or very few standing setae: nSc 0.55 ± 0.63 [0.0,2.5]. Genae with very few erect setae: nGen 1.10 ± 0.80 [0.0,3.0]. Underside of head and hind margin of vertex with rather numerous standing setae: nGu 3.34 ± 1.34 [1.5,8.5], nOcc 12.30 ± 2.66 [4.5,18.0]. Extensor profile of hind tibia with few and metapleuron below level of propodeal stigma with rather many erect to suberect setae: nHT 3.15 ± 1.77 [0.5,8.5], nSt 4.13 ± 1.32 [1.5,7.5]. Setae on pronotum long: PnHL/CS 0.161 ± 0.011 [0.137,0.201]. Whole body concolorous medium to blackish brown; mandibles, scapes and sometimes tibiae lighter reddish or yellowish brown. Mesosoma in lateral view with a rather low and more convex propodeal dome. Petiole scale low, in frontal view with convex sides which strongly converge towards the rather narrow dorsal crest which is slightly emarginate to straight.

Type Material



 * Four paratype workers on a second pin, one male and a gyne paratype on a third pin, all with the same site labeling as the holotype but labeled "Paratype Lasius bombycina Seifert & Galkowski"; Senckenberg Museum für Naturkunde Görlitz.
 * Three paratype workers labelled "Türkei_26, Prov. Kayseri, Ziyarettepesi Gecidi (ca. 130 km E. Kayseri), 1900mH, 09.05.1997, Leg. A.Schulz, K.Vock, M. Sanetra 01"; Naturhistorisches Museum Wien.

Etymology
The species epithet refers to the rich, whitish pubescence giving the cuticular surface a silky appearance.