Review of the Aphaenogaster splendida species-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

Members of the Aphaenogaster splendida group are reviewed. We recognize 12 species, of which three are new: A. hamaensis sp. nov. (Syria), A. peloponnesiaca sp. nov. (continental Greece), and A. vohraliki sp. nov. (Turkey). Species status is restored for Aphaenogaster schmitzi Forel, 1910 stat. rev., and Aphaenogaster transcaucasica Karavaiev, 1926 stat. nov. is raised to the species rank. Aphaenogaster schmitzi Forel, 1910 is recognized as a senior synonym of Aphaenogaster schmitzi syria Forel, 1910 syn. nov. and Aphaenogaster ovaticeps Emery, 1898 is recognized as a senior synonym of Aphaenogaster muelleriana Wolf, 1915 syn. nov. Detailed descriptions, measurements, habitat and nesting preferences, and activity of workers of all 12 species are given. Keys to workers and known gynes, and photographs of all species and their known castes are presented.