Lasius atopus, Cole, 1958

Boudinot, Brendon E., Borowiec, Marek L. & Prebus, Matthew M., 2022, Phylogeny, evolution, and classification of the ant genus Lasius, the tribe Lasiini and the subfamily Formicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Systematic Entomology 47, pp. 113-151 : 138

1. Species group of atopus (= Chthonolasius part 1/2)

( Figs 8D , 9D )

Constituent species (1): atopus [e].

Distribution: Restricted to western North America (California).

Identification: Among all Lasius , L. atopus has uniquely elongate scapes and a uniquely slender mesosoma (scapes about as long as anteroposterior head length; metanotum relatively elongate, and mesonotum almost in plane with metanotum). In addition, with dense standing pilosity across the entire body, including appendages. See the definition of this species in Cole (1958).

Notes: This species was previously classified in the former subgenus Chthonolasius ; our sequenced specimen represents a new species near L. atopus .

Figures

Fig. 8. Gross phenotypic synopsis of the extant species groups of Lasius, plus two phenotypically similar fossil species; all images in full-face view; scale bars = 0.5 mm. (A) Lasius brunneus (CASENT0280440); (B) Lasius fuliginosus (CASENT0179898); (C) Lasius nr. niger (CASENT0106128); (D) Lasius nr. atopus (CASENT0234858); (E) Lasius carniolicus (CASENT0280471); (F) Lasius claviger (CASENT0103542); (G) Lasius brevicornis (CASENT0280456); (H) Lasius nearcticus (CASENT0104774); (I) Lasius pallitarsis (CASENT0005405); (J) Lasius aphidicola (CASENT0280468); (K) †Lasius schiefferdeckeri (MNHNB25217); (L) †Kyromyrma neffi (AMNH-NJ1029). (Image credits: D = the authors; AntWeb: A = Will Ericson; B = Erin Prado; C = Michael Branstetter; E, G, J = Shannon Hartman; F, H = April Nobile; I = unknown; K = Vincent Perrichot; L = Dave Grimaldi & Vincent Perrichot.)

Fig. 9. Gross phenotypic synopsis of the species groups of Lasius, plus two phenotypically similar fossil species; all images in profile view; scale bars = 1.0 mm; scale bar unavailable for K. (A) Lasius brunneus (CASENT0280440); (B) Lasius fuliginosus (CASENT0179898); (C) Lasius nr. niger (CASENT0106128); (D) Lasius nr. atopus (CASENT0234858); (E) Lasius carniolicus (CASENT0280471); (F) Lasius claviger (CASENT0103542); (G) Lasius brevicornis (CASENT0280456); (H) Lasius nearcticus (CASENT0104774); (I) Lasius pallitarsis (CASENT0005405); (J) Lasius aphidicola (CASENT0280468); (K) †Lasius schiefferdeckeri (HJF013); (L) †Kyromyrma neffi (AMNH-NJ1029). (Image credits: D = the authors; AntWeb: A = Will Ericson; B = Erin Prado; C = Michael Branstetter; E, G, J = Shannon Hartman; F, H = April Nobile; I = unknown; K = Vincent Perrichot; L = Dave Grimaldi & Vincent Perrichot.)