Review of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Crete, with keys to species determination and zoogeographical remarks

We present the first critical review of all Formicidae species found on Crete. Samples were collected from 302 localities, dispersed on the whole island (Prefectures of Chania – 75, Heraklion – 86, Lasithi – 74 and Rethymnon – 67). As a result, we present a detailed catalogue of 100 Cretan ant species, representatives of 6 subfamilies and 28 genera, with keys to their determination. The most diverse genera are Temnothorax (17 species), Camponotus (11) and Tetramorium (9). Additionally, we provide the very first documentation of Tapinoma festae male genitalia. All species and keys to their determination are illustrated, short notes on their biology, as well as maps on their distribution on the island, are also given. Among 18 known endemic species 89% belong to the Myrmicinae subfamily. With 8 endemic species the Temnothorax genus is the most diverse in this group. Among all species recorded from Crete we could distinguish 14 chorotypes. The dominant groups are chorotypes of species more or less widely spread in the Mediterranean countries. They represent 59% of known ant fauna of Crete. Among them the dominant are Mediterranean (23%), Aegaean (13%) and NE-Mediterranean (9%). Nevertheless, alarming is also a high percentage of invasive taxa recorded from the island (10%).