New records of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari Province of Iran with taxonomic comments

Abstract

Abstract The ant fauna from the Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari Province of Iran was surveyed. As a result, a total of 28 ant species belonging to 11 genera of Formicidae were collected and identified. Species status is proposed for Messor barbarus subsp. mediosanguineus Donisthorpe, 1946, the species status of Messor platyceras Crawley, 1920 is restored with Messor platyceras var. rubella Crawley, 1920 as a new synonym of the nominotypical form, and Camponotus oasium ninivae Pisarski, 1971 is removed from synonyms of Camponotus oasium Forel, 1890. The genera Messor Forel, 1890, with seven species and Cataglyphis Förster, 1850 with six species, have the highest species richness. Messor mediosanguineus Donisthorpe, 1946, Pheidole koshewnikovi Ruzsky, 1905 and Camponotus oasium ninivae Pisarski, 1971 were recorded in Iran for the first time.