Ant diversity on the largest Mediterranean islands: on the presence or absence of 28 species in Sicily (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Abstract

The ant fauna of Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean basin, has been significantly overlooked over the time. Drafting a reliable Sicilian ant checklist requires extensive field surveys, a careful review of the literature and of museum specimens, as well as the taxonomic investigation of some problematic issues. As a part of these ongoing efforts, we present our results on the presence or absence of 25 species. By analyzing specimens collected during the last 35 years across the island and reviewing old records in the light of present-day taxonomy, we provide evidence of the presence of 9 species (Camponotus ruber, Lasius myops, L. platythorax, Plagiolepis schmitzii, Ponera testacea, Solenopsis orbula, Temnothorax clypeatus, T. nylanderi, and T. ravouxi), while suggesting the absence of 19 others (Camponotus ligniperda, C. sicheli, C. spissinodis, Formica lugubris, Lasius alienus, L. flavus, L. niger, L. paralienus, Messor minor, M. wasmanni, Monomorium monomorium, Myrmica scabrinodis, M. spinosior, Nylanderia sp. 2 sensu Schifani & Alicata 2018, Solenopsis fugax, Temnothorax luteus, T. tuberum, Tetramorium caespitum, and T. indocile). Similar studies are necessary across Italy, as a significant portion of the existing ant records is outdated due to the evolved taxonomic framework.

Following the Apennines: updating the distribution of Formica clara and Formica rufibarbis in Italy (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

“…Unfortunately, lack of distribution data verified under modern taxonomy is a common issue for Italian ants, well beyond the case examined in this study, with the distribution of many diverse and ecologically important genera such as Lasius strongly requiring new investigation (e.g. Schifani et al 2021b).…”

Unrecognized for centuries: distribution and sexual caste descriptions of the West European Aphaenogaster species of the subterranea group (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

“…Moreover, it is the sole species found on all investigated islands with the only exception of Sicily, where A. subterranea is found at higher elevations in the Etna and the Sicilian Apennines alongside other continental species ( Schifani et al 2021b , 2022b ).…”

Integrating morphology with phylogenomics to describe four island endemic species of Temnothorax from Sicily and Malta (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

“…Sicilian specimens of Temnothorax were primarily obtained through field-collecting across the island by the authors and occasional collaborators as described in Schifani et al (2021a) (Fig. 1), extending to the Italian Peninsula and the circum-Sicilian islands (including the Maltese islands).…”

“…Sicily is the largest Mediterranean island, and its central position in the region allowed its long-neglected ant fauna to be shaped by different biogeographic influxes from the East and West, reaching it either from Europe through the Italian peninsula (now divided by the Strait of Messina) or from North Africa passing through the Eastern Maghreb (presently separated by the Sicilian Channel) (Schifani & Alicata 2018;Alicata & Schifani 2019;Schifani et al 2020Schifani et al , 2021aSchifani et al , 2022. For these reasons, its ant fauna is characterized by some unique traits (Wang et al 2022).…”

“…For these reasons, its ant fauna is characterized by some unique traits (Wang et al 2022). There are currently 14 species of Temnothorax whose presence in Sicily has been recorded and was not later dismissed: T. affinis (Mayr, 1855), T. clypeatus (Mayr, 1853), T. exilis (Emery, 1869), T. flavicornis (Emery, 1870), T. laestrygon (Santschi, 1931), T. lagrecai (Baroni Urbani, 1964), T. lichtensteini (Bondroit, 1918), T. mediterraneus Ward et al, 2015, T. muellerianus (Finzi, 1922, T. nylanderi (Foerster, 1850), T. ravouxi (André, 1896), T. recedens (Nylander, 1856), T. rottenbergii (Emery, 1870), and T. unifasciatus (Latreille, 1798) (see De Stefani 1889;Baroni Urbani 1964;Buschinger et al 1988;Schifani & Alicata 2018;Schär et al 2020;Schifani et al 2021aSchifani et al , 2022Schifani 2022). Of these, T. laestrygon and T. lagrecai are considered to be endemic, but the status of both appeared doubtful due to the lack of clearly defined diagnostic features.…”