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. 2021 May 21:9:e65742.
doi: 10.3897/BDJ.9.e65742. eCollection 2021.

Ant genus Strongylognathus (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Bulgaria: a preliminary review

Albena Lapeva-Gjonova  1 , Alexander G Radchenko  2
Affiliations

Ant genus Strongylognathus (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Bulgaria: a preliminary review

Albena Lapeva-Gjonova et al. Biodivers Data J. .

Abstract

Background: Strongylognathus Mayr, 1853 is a Palaearctic genus, comprising 25 ant species and one subspecies, all permanent social parasites, infesting colonies of various species of Tetramorium Mayr, 1855. They have patchy distribution throughout their areas and most of them are very rare and listed as vulnerable.The taxonomy of the Strongylognathus huberi group needs thorough revision and the results presented below can be considered as preliminary.

New information: Four species of the socially parasitic ant genus Strongylognathus (S. karawajewi Pisarski, 1966, S. huberi dalmaticus Baroni Urbani, 1969, S. afer Emery, 1884 and S. italicus Finzi, 1924) are recorded for the first time from Bulgaria and, together with the previously-known S. testaceus and S. bulgaricus stat. rev., their total number reaches six. The taxonomic position and geographic distribution of all species are discussed and a Key for their identification, based on worker caste, is compiled.

Keywords: Balkans; S. afer; S. huberi dalmaticus; S. italicus; Strongylognathus karawajewi; ants; fauna; key; new records; social parasites; taxonomy.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Photos of some collection sites: a – Thracian plain, Besaparski hills, near Ognyanovo vill. (habitat of Strongylognathus karawajewi); b – Stara planina, near Karnare vill. (habitat of S. karawajewi); c – Eastern Rhodopes, near Chernichino vill. (habitat of S. karawajewi and S. italicus); d – Eastern Rhodopes, near Gaberovo vill. (habitat of S. karawajewi and S. afer).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Strongylognathus testaceus (Schenck, 1852) workers: a – head, dorsal view; b – body, lateral view.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Strongylognathus karawajewi Pisarski, 1966: a, b – workers; c, d – gynes; e, f, g – males; a, c – head, dorsal view; b, d – mesosoma, lateral view; e – body, lateral view; f – male genitalia, stipites in dorsal view; g – male genitalia, stipites in ventral view.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Strongylognathus bulgaricus Pisarski, 1966, workers: a – head, dorsal view; b – body, lateral view.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Strongylognathus huberi dalmaticus Baroni Urbani, 1969, workers: a – head, dorsal view; b – mesosoma lateral view.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Strongylognathus italicus Finzi, 1924, workers: a – head, dorsal view; b – body, lateral view.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Strongylognathus afer Emery, 1884, workers: a. head, dorsal view; b. body, lateral view.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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