Revision of the European ants of the Aphaenogaster testaceopilosa-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract

The taxonomy of the myrmicine ants of the Aphaenogaster testaceopilosa-group is revised. Fourteen species are recognized, including two new species, both from Greece: A. balcanicoides sp. n. and A. karpathica sp. n. Aphaenogaster melitensis Emery, 1924 and A. sporadis Santschi, 1933 are elevated to species level. The following new synonyms are established: Aphaenogaster ionia Santschi, 1933 (= A. balcanica Emery, 1898), A. senilis grata Santschi, 1933 (= A. senilis Mayr, 1853), A. senilis occidua Santschi, 1933 (= A. senilis), A. spinosa etrusca Baroni Urbani, 1969 (= A. spinosa Emery, 1878) and A. corsica Casevitz-Weulersse, 2010 (= A. spinosa). Furthermore, a redescription is given for all European species of the Aphaenogaster testaceopilosa-group. The genus Aphaenogaster now includes 178 species, of which 36 are known from Europe. Identification keys are provided.