Formica angusticeps STARCKE 1947

Formica angusticeps STÄRCKE, 1947

Formica rufa var. angusticeps STÄRCKE, 1947 [description, zoogeography]

The taxon was described from the Netherlands. BOL- TON (1995) considered the name as available. The title of the paper “De boreale form van de roode boschmier (Formica rufa rufa)” suggests that STÄRCKE (1947) intended to introduce the new name at infrasubspecific rank. Yet, the main text did not make it clear what his intention was. If the name is available, we can assume a synonymy with Formica pratensis based on the following argumentation. The type locality is in Hoge Veluwe (51.08° N, 5.83° E, 38m) – a sand dune area with interspersed moister parts. We have only four species of the F. rufa group potentially occurring in that region: F. rufa, Formica polyctena, F. pratensis, and Formica truncorum. Formica truncorum is extremely rare in the Netherlands and STÄRCKE (1947) would have noted the diagnostic pigmentation. Therefore, he would have referred to one of the other three species. The reported presence on extensor profile of tibiae of 5 - 11 setae which are erected by 30 - 45° clearly speaks against F. rufa, F. polyctena, or F. polyctena × rufa. STÄRCKE (1947) gave no data on pilosity on back of head but he compared his F. angusticeps with specimens of “ F. rufa rufa ” from the Norwegian coast near the Lofoten (68° N) and of “ F. rufa alpina Santschi ” from the high Alps. For zoogeographical and morphological reasons, his specimens from the Lofoten obviously belonged to Formica lugubris and those from the high Alps to either F. lugubris or Formica paralugubris. These data implicate F. angusticeps to have a rich overall pilosity as it is typical for F. pratensis and to be hairier than in the hairiest F. rufa phenotypes.