Crematogaster jehovae Forel Figure 23 A–C

Taxonomic history.

Crematogaster (Acrocoelia) auberti subsp. jehovae Forel, 1907c: 207 (w.) Israel: Menozzi 1933: 58 (q.).

Combination in Crematogaster (Acrocoelia): Emery 1922: 142; Santschi 1930: 266; in Crematogaster ( Crematogaster): Bolton 1995: 166.

Status as species: Emery 1926: 3; Menozzi 1933: 58.

Current subspecies: C. jehovae crawleyi Emery.

Material examined.

KSA: Asir province, Ballasmer, A’l Omer, 18.76008N, 42.26806E, 2455 m, 28.iv.2019 (Sharaf MR) (1 w, KSMA); Raydah: 18.204267N, 42.4124E, 2820 m, 21.ii.2014 (Al Dhafer et al.) (4 w, KSMA); Raydah: 18.20525N, 42.410117E, 2761 m, 21.ii.2014 (Al Dhafer et al.) (1 w, KSMA); Ballasmer, A’l Azza, 18.60815N, 42.24628E, 2611 m, 27.iv.2019 (Sharaf MR) (2 w, KSMA).

Geographic range.

This species was originally described from Israel and is also known from the southeastern Europe and the Middle East (Borowiec and Salata 2012; Borowiec 2014; Guénard et al. 2017; Janicki et al. 2017). Our material represents the first record from the KSA since it was previously only known from UAE and Yemen (Borowiec and Salata 2012; Borowiec 2014) (Fig. 19).

Remarks.

Considering that the species was known from most countries around the KSA, it is not surprising to now be discovered in this region. The taxonomy and identification of this species seems straightforward and we expect that this will remain this way.