Forum Entomologi Italiani

Specie descritta da Emery su esemplari di una ristretta popolazione della Liguria, presente solo nel genovese. Non riscontrabile altrove in Italia/Francia. Comune e diffusa invece in Penisola Balcanica, se conspecifica a tale popolazione. E se conspecifica, evidentemente allora specie descritta su una popolazione introdotta.

Questa è certamente la forma tipica essendo raccolta nel genovese. Ma mi piacerebbe sapere cosa ne pensa Lech (che sicuramente avrà raccolto esemplari in Penisola Balcanica) a proposito della conspecificità con gli esemplari genovesi.

Hi, Lech! These ones have been collected in type locality (Genova, Chiavari) so it is undoubtedly the true A. ovaticeps. But I would like to know your opinion about the effective (or not) conspecificity with the Balkan population. Thanks!

Vincenzo

_________________
Vade ad formicam...

_________________
Vade ad formicam...

Sorry for delay with comments I just back from a long collecting trip to Peloponnese. Aphaenogaster ovaticeps from your photo looks very similar to A. muelleriana Wolf, 1915 from Dalmatia and Greece (described as variety of ovaticeps). The species of A. splendida group (splendida, ovaticeps, muelleriana, rugosoferruginea, festae and syriaca) are very similar and difficult to identify from photos and for proper identification need morphometric studies. I would be appreciate for 3-4 workers from Liguria population to study if possible. Attached photos of typical A. muelleriana population from Greece to comparison:

Thank you, Lech!

I have to say it was even my suspect that A. muelleriana could be synonymous of ovaticeps when I studied this group and checked with the specimens by AntWeb.

About the material for you: no problem! Since the swarming period of this population in Ligury seems to be exactly... now (end of June), I think we could try to collect also some alate specimens for you (but I can't assure). I have a dear friend who lives in Chiavari (Genova) so I have just asked her for collecting them.

Please, give us just a couple weeks...

Thank you again!

Vincenzo

_________________
Vade ad formicam...