The report of Queen and male ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the eastern parts of Isfahan Province- Iran

Abstract

Introduction: The study of Queen and male ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Iran is very limited and scattered in comparison with the ants of the world.
Materials & Methods: The present study has investigated the stations in eastern part of Isfahan Province during three seasons of spring, summer and autumn of 1398 in order to confirm the presence and nativeness of the species in Iran. So far a comprehensive study on winged ants has not been conducted in Iran.
Result: In the present study, a total of 15 Queen and 6 male ants from 18 species have been collected and detected by manual and trapping methods. Except for the queen of Tapinoma karavaievi, the winged ants of other species were identified for the first time from Iran. All the species have been identified using valid keys and were introduced as native species of Iran.
Conclusion: The identified species are: Camponotus adenensis, Cataglyphis bicolor, Cataglyphis foreli, Cataglyphis niger, Cataglyphis nodus, Formica clara, Plagiolepis pygmaea, Lepisiota dolabella, Crematogaster (Cr.)n.sp., Messor ebeninus, Pheidole cicatricosa, Pheidole fervens, Pheidole pallidula, Tetramorium caespitum, Tetramorium chefketi, Tetramorium impurum, Tapinoma karavaievi,
Tapinoma simroti.