2. Species group of fuliginosus (= Dendrolasius)

(Figs 8B, 9B)

Constituent species (8): buccatus Stärcke [], capitatus (Kuznetsov-Ugamsky) [e], fuji Radchenko [], fuliginosus * [e], morisitai Yamauchi [], nipponensis Forel [e], orientalis Karavaiev [e], spathepus [e].

Distribution: Palaearctic.

Identification: Universally identifiable among Lasius for their jet-black and shining (polished) cuticle, and their weakly to strongly cordate (posteriorly emarginate) heads; unique among the niger clade in bearing an offset basal tooth on the mandible. Species-level identification of all fuliginosus species is presented in Radchenko (2005a); note that Lasius buccatus is known only from the queen and male castes (Stärcke, 1942).