Crematogaster erectepilosa, Salata, Sebastian & Borowiec, Lech, 2015

Salata, Sebastian & Borowiec, Lech, 2015, Redescription of Crematogastercypria Santschi, 1930, new status, with description of two new related species from Greece and Turkey (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), ZooKeys 505, pp. 59-77 : 62-67

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Formicidae

Crematogaster erectepilosa sp. n. Figs 3, 4, 7, 10, 14

Type material.

Holotype worker - Collection L. Borowiec | Formicidae | LBC-GR01365 || GREECE, Dodecanese | Karpathos, Olympos, 429 m | 35,72448 N / 27,1697 E | 19 V 2014, S. Salata (MNHW no. 1222); 18 paratype workers: the same data as holotype (DBET, CASC, TU no. ANTWEB1008777-ANTWEB1008794); 2 paratype workers - Collection L. Borowiec | Formicidae | LBC-GR01364 || GREECE, Dodecanese, 385 m | Karpathos, Spoa-Mesochori rd. | loc 2., 35,63108 N / 27,13624 E | 22 V 2014, S. Salata (DBET no. ANTWEB1008795-ANTWEB1008796); 22 paratype workers - GREECE, Dodecanese, 385 m | Karpathos, Spoa-Mesochori rd. | loc 2., 35,63108 N / 27,13624 E | 22 V 2014, S. Salata (DBET, SSC no. ANTWEB100879-ANTWEB1008818); 1 paratype worker - Collection L. Borowiec | Formicidae | LBC-GR01364 || GREECE, Dodecanese, 399 m | Karpathos, Spoa-Mesochori rd. | 35,62748 N / 27,12748 E | 21 V 2014, S. Salata (DBET no. ANTWEB1008819); 1 paratype worker - GREECE Dodecanese | Karpathos, Ag. Nikolaos, | 189 m 35°38'N 27°09'E | 20.05.14 S. Salata (SSC no. ANTWEB1008820); 32 paratype workers - GREECE Karpathos | Trachanammos, 0 m. | 35°27'N 27°06'E | 22.05.14 S. Salata (DBET, SSC no. ANTWEB1008821-ANTWEB1008852); 4 paratype workers - GREECE Dodecanese | Karpathos, Achamandria, | 222 m 35°41'N 27°09'E | 18.05.14 S. Salata (SSC no. ANTWEB1008853-ANTWEB1008856); 1 paratype worker - GREECE Dodecanese | Karpathos, Olympos, 351 m | 35°43'N 27°10'E | 19.05.14 S. Salata (SSC no. ANTWEB1008857); 2 paratype workers - GREECE Dodec. Karpathos, | Vanada, 460 m 35°33' | N/ 27°09'E, 12.10.2013 | Lymberakis (SSC no. ANTWEB1008858-ANTWEB1008859); 1 paratype worker - GREECE Dodec. Rodos, | Prasonisi, 17 m 36°58' | N/ 27°44'E, 9.07.2006 | Chatzaki M. (SSC no. ANTWEB 1008860); 1 paratype worker - GREECE Dodec. | Kandelioussa, 76 m 36°30'N | / 26°58'E, 6.06.2006 | Chatzaki M. (SSC no. ANTWEB1008861); 1 paratype worker - Collection L. Borowiec | Formicidae | LBC-GR01551 || GREECE, Dodecanese, Rodos | Prasonisi, 9 VII 2006, 14 m | 35,8842 N 27,768 E | leg. M. Chatzaki (DBET no. ANTWEB1008862); 1 paratype worker - Collection L. Borowiec | Formicidae | LBC-GR01550 || GREECE, Dodecanese, 270 m | Kos, Pelli | 36,8352/N 27,1668 E | 9 IX 2001 leg. M. Chatzaki (DBET no. ANTWEB1008863);

Differential diagnosis.

Crematogaster erectepilosa sp. n. differs from all species from the north-eastern part of the Mediterranean Basin, except Crematogaster cypria Santschi and Crematogaster gullukdagensis sp. n., in that the first gastral tergite bearing numerous erect setae. Crematogaster cypria is well distinguished by shorter propodeal spines and mesonotal keel (see key below). Crematogaster gullukdagensis is very similar but differs in having the antennal scape predominantly with subappressed and suberect setae (Fig. 11), while in Crematogaster erectepilosa sp. n. the setae on scape are mostly erect (Fig. 10). Head in full face view in Crematogaster erectepilosa sp. n. appears round, while in Crematogaster gullukdagensis sp. n. it is slightly square. Eyes in Crematogaster erectepilosa sp. n. are more round (EI 74.3 ± 2.3 [71.5-78.8]) and in Crematogaster gullukdagensis sp. n. they are more oval (EI 69.5 ± 3.1 [63.4-73.6]). Body ground colour in Crematogaster erectepilosa sp. n. is darker, yellowish-brown to brown, in Crematogaster gullukdagensis sp. n. yellowish to pale yellowish-brown. Propodeal spines of Crematogaster erectepilosa sp. n. in most specimens are slightly curved down, while in Crematogaster gullukdagensis sp. n. propodeal spines are mostly straight, spine at base slightly thicker in Crematogaster erectepilosa sp. n. and thinner in Crematogaster gullukdagensis sp. n. Sides of pronotum in Crematogaster erectepilosa sp. n. in most specimens have fine longitudinal striation, while in Crematogaster gullukdagensis sp. n. they are mostly without striation, smooth and shiny.

Description.

Measurements: Workers (n=23): HL: 0.948 ± 0.039 (0.872-1.017); HW: 0.972 ± 0.056 (0.872-1.072); SL: 0.884 ± 0.027 (0.835-0.921); EL: 0.228 ± 0.007 (0.212-0.235); EW: 0.169 ± 0.005 (0.162-0.179); ML:1.117 ± 0.057 (1.011-1.209); PSL: 0.2 ± 0.023 (0.156-0.251); SDL: 0.065 ± 0.03 (0.044-0.165); PL: 0.415 ± 0.014 (0.391-0.436); PPL: 0.207 ± 0.012 (0.19-0.235); PH: 0.228 ± 0.016 (0.19-0.246); PPH: 0.26 ± 0.017 (0.223-0.291); PNW: 0.6 ± 0.03 (0.547-0.654); LHT: 0.81 ± 0.027 (0.777-0.865); PW: 0.337 ± 0.03 (0.236-0.38); PPW: 0.297 ± 0.018 (0.268-0.335); CI: 102.5 ± 1.9 (99.3-105.4); SI1: 93.3 ± 1.9 (89.3-96.0); SI2: 91.1 ± 3.0 (84.7-96.0); MI: 186.1 ± 3.7 (179.6-194.0); SPI: 28.9 ± 4.3 (23.2-37.8); PI1: 184.3 ± 11.7 (167.9-205.8); PI2: 56.2 ± 4.0 (42.2-59.2); PPI1: 79.1 ± 3.5 (73.4-83.7); PPI2: 49.5 ± 1.0 (47.9-51.2); HTI: 84.8 ± 2.6 (81.1-90.4); EI: 74.3 ± 2.3 (71.5-78.8); EI1: 24.1 ± 0.7 (22.7-25.0); EI2: 17.9 ± 0.7 (16.9-18.7).

Colour uniformly pale to dark brown, mesosoma not paler coloured than head and abdomen, legs the same colour, antennae only slightly paler coloured than mesosoma (Figs 3, 4).

Head shape almost round, approximately as wide as long (CI: 102.5 ± 1.9), posterior margin of head in full-face view straight and laterally rounded, occipital carinae distinct (Fig. 7). Antennal scapes slightly surpassing head margin. Midline of eyes situated slightly above midline of head in full-face view, eyes moderately large (EI1: 24.1 ± 0.7) and protruding. Pronotum laterally rounded, with sharp lateral margins, promesonotal suture absent, mesonotum without posterior face more or less forming one plane with pronotum. Metanotal groove deep, laterally constricted; propodeal spines long, 2.7-2.8 times as long as wide at base, spiniform, in most specimens slightly curved downwards (Fig. 4). Dorsal face of propodeum short but distinct, convex in profile, posterior face of propodeum distinctly sloping, without transverse groove. Petiole in dorsal view cordiform, dorsum flat or slightly concave, without posterolateral tubercules or denticles, sides carinate, subpetiolar process absent. Postpetiole distinctly bilobed, with a narrow median impression, subpostpetiolar process absent.

Head surface finely and sparsely punctate, without microreticulation between punctures, shiny. Masticatory margin of mandibles with four teeth, surface of mandibles distinctly carinate. Clypeus on whole surface with thin carinae or only in the middle carinae indistinct. Antennal scrobes laterally with 7-9 long carinae extending to mid length of eye, also genae with carinae and area behind eyes with thin carinae. Whole surface of head appears shiny. Vestiture of head mostly with sparse, short, suberect hairs and 5-8 long erect setae on frons and several long erect setae on underside. Antennal scapes on anterior and dorsal surface bearing long erect setae, on posterior surface basally with suberect and distally erect setae (Figs 7, 10). Surface of scape with indistinct microreticulation, shiny. Pronotum in anterior half and dorsolaterally with longitudinal rugae, posterior face with punctuation and sparse, very short carinae, surface of pronotum appears more or less shiny. Whole dorsal surface of pronotum bearing mixed sparse, short suberect and long erect setae. Sides of pronotum with more or less distinct thin, transverse carinae disappearing from anterior to posterior margin of pronotum but in most specimens well visible. Mesonotum dorsally on whole length with longitudinal and oblique rugae, more or less shiny, with distinct median keel in most specimens running from anterior margin of mesonotum to its ¾ length, in some specimens reaching to posterior margin of mesonotum. Surface of mesonotum with very sparse, short adjacent setae. Mesopleuron on whole surface with dense, transverse carinae. Dorsal face of propodeum with longitudinal carinae and very sparse and short adjacent pubescence, slope of propodeum smooth and shiny, metapleuron on whole surface with dense, transverse carinae. Petiole on sides and posterior half with long erect setae, also postpetiolar tubercles several erect setae. First gastral tergite with sparse, moderately long, suberect basic pubescence and on whole surface with sparse, moderately long erect setae (Fig. 2), subsequent tergites with row of erect setae along posterior margins. Whole surface of tergites with very fine microreticulation, appears shiny. First sternite with moderately long and sparse basic pubescence and numerous long, erect setae. Legs bearing sparse, moderately long, more or less erect pubescence.

Etymology.

Named after erect setae on antennal scape.

Distribution.

Dodecanese Archipelago in Aegean Greece (Fig. 20).

Biological data.

The ants were collected on ground around shrubs and from shrub leaves and stems. Locality on Karpathos, Olympos was placed 429 m a.s.l. in dry, stony and rocky area with sparse shrubs. The following ant species were recorded in the same area: Aphaenogaster olympica Borowiec & Salata, Camponotus gestroi Emery, Camponotus honaziensis Karaman & Aktaç, Camponotus ionius Emery, Camponotus jaliensis Dalla Torre, Camponotus kiesenwetteri (Roger), Crematogaster ionia Forel, Crematogaster sordidula (Nylander), Lepisiota nigra (Dalla Torre), Messor orientalis (Emery), Messor wasmanni Krausse, Pheidole pallidula (Nylander), Plagiolepis pallescens sensu Radchenko, Tapinoma simrothi Krausse, Temnothorax exilis (Emery), Temnothorax recedens (Nylander), and Temnothorax solerii (Menozzi). First locality on Spoa-Mesochori rd. was on a rocky slope, above olive orchard, overgrown by shrubs. The following ant species were recorded in the same area: Aphaenogaster karpathica Boer, Aphaenogaster olympica Borowiec & Salata, Camponotus ionius Emery, Camponotus jaliensis Dalla Torre, Camponotus kiesenwetteri (Roger), Camponotus lateralis (Olivier), Crematogaster sordidula (Nylander), Lepisiota nigra (Dalla Torre), Messor wasmanni Krausse, Pheidole pallidula (Nylander), Plagiolepis pallescens sensu Radchenko, Plagiolepis taurica Santschi, Tapinoma simrothi Krausse, Temnothorax exilis (Emery), Temnothorax semiruber ( André), and Tetramorium cf. punctatum . Second locality on Spoa-Mesochori rd. was near a road, opposite the Spoa-Mesochori rd. locality, area was overgrown by Mediterranean shrubland. The following ant species were recorded in the same area: Camponotus jaliensis Dalla Torre, Camponotus kiesenwetteri (Roger), Camponotus lateralis (Olivier), Crematogaster ionia Forel, Pheidole pallidula (Nylander), Plagiolepis pallescens sensu Radchenko, and Temnothorax exilis (Emery).

Locality near Agios Nikolaos was located above the village. The vegetation at this locality is a Mediterranean shrubland and pine forest. The following ant species were recorded in the same area: Camponotus ionius Emery, Camponotus kiesenwetteri (Roger), Lepisiota melas (Emery), Pheidole pallidula (Nylander), Plagiolepis pallescens sensu Radchenko, Tetramorium cf. caespitum , and Tetramorium cf. punctatum .

Locality near Achamandria was on a dry slope overgrown by Mediterranean shrubland and isolated pine trees. The following ant species were recorded in the same area: Camponotus gestroi Emery, Camponotus ionius Emery, Camponotus jaliensis Dalla Torre, Camponotus kiesenwetteri (Roger), Camponotus lateralis (Olivier), Crematogaster ionia Forel, Crematogaster sordidula (Nylander), Lepisiota nigra (Dalla Torre), Pheidole pallidula (Nylander), Plagiolepis taurica Santschi, Temnothorax exilis (Emery), Temnothorax recedens (Nylander), Temnothorax semiruber ( André), and Temnothorax solerii (Menozzi). Locality near Trachanammos was in a sandy valley created by intermittent river, overgrown by Mediterranean shrubland. Nest was located in the soil, under stone beneath shrubs. The following ant species were recorded in the same area: Camponotus kiesenwetteri (Roger), Lepisiota nigra (Dalla Torre), Monomorium subopacum (F. Smith) and Pheidole pallidula (Nylander).