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Title: Review of the Messor semirufus complex (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Greece
Messoris a diverse genus of Myrmicinae with 168 extant species and subspecies. In the Mediterranean, some of its taxa historically were classified as members of theMessor instabilisgroup (sensu Santschi), of which 19 are known from the eastern Mediterranean. Here, theMessor semirufuscomplex of the Balkan Peninsula that assembles a distinct subsection of members of theinstabilisgroup is defined and treated. In total, five species are recorded, including three that are new.Messor atanassoviiAtanassov, 1982 is redescribed and confirmed for Bulgaria (Thracian Plain, Struma, and Mesta Valley, Pirin Mt., and Eastern Rhodopi) and Greece (Epirus, Ionian Islands, Central and Eastern Macedonia, and Thraki). Three species are described as new to science:Messor danaesSalata, Georgiadis & Borowiec,sp. nov.(Cyclades: Serifos),Messor kardamenaeSalata & Borowiec,sp. nov.(Dodecanese: Kos, Nisyros, Rhodes, and Tilos), andMessor venerisSalata, Georgiadis & Borowiec,sp. nov.(Cyclades: Milos). The fifth member of the complex,Messor creticusBorowiec & Salata, 2019, maintains its status of Cretan endemic.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2019431
PAR ID:
10541194
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
Pensoft
Date Published:
Journal Name:
ZooKeys
Volume:
1185
ISSN:
1313-2989
Page Range / eLocation ID:
105 to 142
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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