03111nas a2200325 4500008004100000245018400041210006900225260001200294300001200306490000700318520207300325653001402398653001702412653002002429653002402449653003002473653001502503653001702518100002102535700002102556700002202577700001902599700002202618700001902640700001702659700001902676700002202695700002202717856004602739 2022 eng d00aRevisiting the morphological species groups of West-Palearctic Aphaenogaster ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) under a phylogenetic perspective: toward an evolutionary classification0 aRevisiting the morphological species groups of WestPalearctic Ap c11/2022 a627-6480 v803 a

The West-Palearctic region is a diversity hotspot for the ant genus Aphaenogaster. Species in this region are characterized by high morphological variation, which has led to their subdivisioninto different infrageneric groups. The very first classification in three subgenera, dated 1915, was gradually replaced by eight species-groups. To probe the evolutionary consistency of these species-groups, we sequenced 46 species from all eight species-groups and biogeographic sectors of the region, using one mitochondrial (COI) and six nuclear markers (EPICs), and interpreted the results by integrating qualitative morphology. Our results demonstrate the non-monophyly of all formerly recognized subgenera and species-groups, except for the crocea group. We use the phylogeny and morphological characters to propose a new classification of six monophyletic species-groups (crocea, gibbosa, graeca, pallida, sardoa, subterranea). The pallida, subterranea and sardoa (formerly testaceopilosa) groups attain monophyletic status by reassigning a few taxa. The gibbosa group is to be considered exclusively Western-Mediterranean until further assessments of similar Eastern species. The new graeca group is established by including former members of the splendida and subterranea groups, while the polyphyletic cecconii, obsidiana, and splendida groups are dismissed. Notably, the first is not part of the tropical Deromyrma clade as previously thought, while at least two independent clades which require further investigation are composed of species from both the cecconii and splendida groups, suggesting repeated morphological convergences based on similar ecological adaptations. Finally, A. cardenai is confirmed to be a significantly divergent lineage. In addition, three Aphaenogaster species are moved to different genera: Messor asmaae (Sharaf, 2018) comb. nov., Messor isekram (Bernard, 1977) comb. nov., and Pheidole sarae (Sharaf, 2018) comb. nov. Further studies should address the evolutionary relationships between the clades recovered in this study.

10aapomorphy10abiogeography10adiversification10aMediterranean fauna10amorphological convergence10aMyrmicinae10aplesiomorphy1 aSchifani, Enrico1 aAlicata, Antonio1 aMenchetti, Mattia1 aBorowiec, Lech1 aFisher, Brian, L.1 aKaraman, Celal1 aKiran, Kadri1 aOueslati, Wala1 aSalata, Sebastian1 aBlatrix, Rumsaïs uhttps://greekants.myspecies.info/node/56501495nas a2200169 4500008004100000245009000041210006900131260001500200300001200215490000700227520096800234100002201202700001901224700001701243700001901260856004601279 2021 eng d00aReview of the Aphaenogaster splendida species-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).0 aReview of the iAphaenogaster splendidai speciesgroup Hymenoptera c2021-06-30 a297-3430 v713 a

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.

1 aSalata, Sebastian1 aKaraman, Celal1 aKiran, Kadri1 aBorowiec, Lech uhttps://greekants.myspecies.info/node/54500949nas a2200157 4500008004100000245009000041210006900131260001200200300001200212490000700224520046000231100001700691700001800708700001900726856004600745 2008 eng d00aThree new species of ants (genus Aphaenogaster, Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Turkey.0 aThree new species of ants genus Aphaenogaster Hymenoptera Formic c2008-10 a689-6950 v633 a

Three new species of the ant genus Aphaenogaster (A. aktaci sp. n., A. maculifrons sp. n., A. radchenkoi sp. n.) are described from Turkey and their taxonomic positions are discussed. Aphaenogaster aktaci sp. n. belongs to the obsidiana group, A. maculifrons sp. n. to subterranea group and A. radchenkoi sp. n. to pallida group of the Attomyrma subgenus. Key characteristics for identification of the species and data on their ecology are given.

1 aKiran, Kadri1 aAktaç, Nihat1 aTezcan, Serdar uhttps://greekants.myspecies.info/node/54301456nas a2200217 4500008004100000245012700041210006900168260001500237300001200252490000700264520077300271653001901044653002201063653001501085653002201100653001101122653002301133100001901156700001701175856004601192 2017 eng d00aFirst record of Carebara oertzeni Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the European part of Turkey with worker description0 aFirst record of Carebara oertzeni Forel Hymenoptera Formicidae f c17/07/2017 a638-6440 v413 a

Carebara oertzeni Forel is recorded from the European part of Turkey for the first time based on queens, a male, and workers.
The hitherto unknown worker caste of C. oertzeni is recorded and described for the first time. Our queen and male specimens have
some differences from the typical C. oertzeni specimens. The differences are the sculpture on the anterior half of head, on the pronotum,
and the area between the metanotal teeth, larger head measurements and some body ratios in queen; head measurements, 4-toothed
mandibles, scape measurements, ratio of scape and 2nd funicular segment, and hair density on head dorsum in male. Moreover, some
biological notes for the species are given.

10aalpha taxonomy10aCarebara oertzeni10aFormicidae10aPalearctic region10aTurkey10aworker description1 aKaraman, Celal1 aKiran, Kadri uhttps://greekants.myspecies.info/node/530