Catalogue of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Bulgaria

Abstract

The present catalogue of the ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Bulgaria is made on a base of critical reconsideration of literature (covering the period from 1892 till 2009 and part of 2010) as well as on examination of the authors‘ and several museum‘s collections. A lot of data were omitted in the previous Bulgarian monograph on ants, lots of new data were recently added and many important additions and alterations were made due to taxonomic revisions of Eurasian Formicidae during the last three decades. Two new species are reported for the country [Temnothorax graecus (Forel, 1911) and Temnothorax cf. korbi (Emery, 1924)].This catalogue contains a list of 163 ant species belonging to 40 genera of 6 subfamilies now known from Bulgaria. Synonyms and information on the previously reported names in relevant publications are given. Known localities of the species are grouped by geographic regions. Maps with concrete localities or regions for each species were prepared. The conservation status of 13 ant species is given as they are included in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and Bulgarian Biodiversity Act. In comparison with adjacent Balkan regions the ant fauna of Bulgaria is quite rich and its core is composed of South European elements.

Distribution and physical traits of red wood ant mounds in a managed Rhodope mountains forest

“…Formica lugubris Zetterstedt, one of the species of the F. rufa group classified as Lower Risk/Near Threatened in the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN 2013), is only considered to be widespread from central Italy to northern Norway and in the British Isles (Breen 1977;Collingwood 1979). However, more recent studies highlight the presence of F. lugubris also in Greece (Legakis 1983;Borrowiec and Salata 2013), Bulgaria (Lapeva-Gjonova et al 2010), and the rest of the Balkan Peninsula (Agosti and Collingwood 1987a). Since RWA species are morphologically very similar and able to hybridize (Seifert 1991;Czechowski 1996), the taxonomy has always been difficult and controversial concerning correct species identification (Yarrow 1955;Seifert 1991).…”

Unusual Ant Hosts of the Socially Parasitic AntAnergates atratulus(Schenck, 1852) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

“…In Bulgaria, A. atratulus was reported to parasitize T. caespitum nests in several mountains-the Western Balkan Range, Vitosha, Osogovska, Rhodopes, and the Black Sea coast [11,12], but no specific habitats and collecting data for this species were given in these studies.…”

Rickia wasmannii increases the need for water in Myrmica scabrinodis (Ascomycota: Laboulbeniales; Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

“…Espadaler 63 and mention their ''ability to grow on their hosts 64 without inflicting any noticeable injury''. They are sometimes 65 considered to be a neutral factor (Garcia et al, 2010;Lapeva-66 Gjonova and Santamaria, 2011;Whisler, 1968), or to cause little 67 to no harm (Benjamin, 1971;Majewski, 1994;Santamaria, 1998;68 Scheloske, 1969). Negative effects are also mentioned (Benjamin,69 1971; Nalepa and Weir, 2007;Raak-van den Berg et al, 2014;70 Riddick, 2010Riddick, , 2006.…”