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Type: Article
Published: 2009-02-05
Page range: 49–58
Abstract views: 41
PDF downloaded: 1

Ants of the Genus SOLENOPSIS Westwood, 1840 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Egypt with a description of the worker castes of S. cooperi Donisthorpe, 1947

Entomology Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K.
Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde, 76133 Karlsruhe, Germany
Hymenoptera Ant Fauna Egypt Solenopsis Solenopsis cooperi Palaearctic North Africa Myrmicinae

Abstract

The Egyptian species of the ant genus Solenopsis Westwood, 1840, are revised and keyed. Four species are recognized: S. cooperi Donisthorpe, 1947; S. lou Forel, 1902; S. occipitalis Santschi, 1911; and S. kochi Finzi, 1936 (stat. n.). Solenopsis occipitalis is recorded for the first time from Egypt. Solenopsis kochi is redescribed and elevated to species rank. Solenopsis bakri Sharaf, 2007 is synonymized under S. cooperi. The workers of S. cooperi are described for the first time, males and alate gynes are measured, and ecological notes on habitats are given. Available literature records of all the species are reviewed.

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