Review of the Arabian Crematogaster Lund (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), synoptic list, distribution, and description of two new species from Oman and Saudi Arabia

By

Sharaf, Mostafa R.
Aldawood, Abdulrahman Saad
Hita Garcia, Francisco, 1975-

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2019-12-10

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

898

Pages

27--81

Subjects

Arabian Peninsula , Asir Mountains , Dhofar Governorate , Middle East , new records , new species , new status , new synonymy , Qatar , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.898.37531

 

Abstract

The genusCrematogasteris one of the most species-rich and widespread groups of ants. Despite their often-high local abundance and important ecological interactions, the taxonomy of the genus is fragmentary and in great need of modern revisionary studies. As a first step towards a revision for the Arabian fauna ofCrematogaster, a review of all known species with synoptic species accounts is provided. Seventeen species are recognized and illustrated from the Arabian Peninsula, of which two new species are described:C. jacindaeSharaf & Hita Garcia,sp. nov.from the Dhofar Governorate, Oman, andC. gryllsiSharaf & Hita Garcia,sp. nov.from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) based on the worker caste.Crematogaster jacindaesp. nov.is easily separated from the remainder of the ArabianCrematogasterfauna due to its complete lack of propodeal spines, slit-shaped propodeal spiracles, and its distinct bicoloration, whereasC. gryllsisp. nov.is readily distinguished by its unlobed postpetiolar dorsum. Furthermore, new country records are presented:C. acaciaeForel for the KSA and Yemen, andC. delagoensisForel andC. jehovaeForel for the KSAC. antarisfor Qatar, whereasC. luctansForel is excluded from the Arabian fauna. In addition, on the basis of morphological examination of original type material,C. affabilisForel is proposed as junior synonym ofC. chiariniiMayr, andC. striaticepsis elevated to species rankstat. nov.Furthermore, a new identification key for the Arabian species is provided, as well as distribution maps for all species.