CREMATOGASTER CERASI (FITCH, 1855)

(FIGS 10B, 31)

Myrmica cerasi Fitch, 1855: 835.

Four syntype workers, New York (USNM) (examined); one worker here designated lectotype (USNMENT00529078) (image on AntWeb).

Crematogaster cerasi (Fitch, 1855); Roger, 1863: 37.

Junior synonym of Crematogaster lineolata (Say): Dalla Torre, 1893: 83; Creighton 1950: 213.

Crematogaster lineolata var. cerasi (Fitch): Emery, 1895: 282.

Crematogaster lineolata cerasi (Fitch): Smith, 1951: 809.

Status as species: Buren in Smith, 1958: 125; Buren, 1968: 92; Johnson, 1988: 318.

Senior synonym of Crematogaster kennedyi: Buren in Smith, 1958: 125.

Senior synonym of Crematogaster browni: Morgan & Mackay, 2017: 91; here overturned (see above).

Worker measurements (N = 17): HW 0.77–1.05, HL 0.74–0.99, SL 0.62–0.82, WL 0.83–1.17, MtFL 0.67– 0.95, MSC 2–7, A4SC 4–14, PP-SL/HW 0.15–0.19, CI 1.03–1.13, OI 0.22–0.25, SI 0.72–0.81, MtFL/HW 0.81– 0.92, SPL/HW 0.22–0.25, SPTD/HW 0.45–0.59.

Discussion: This is a common species in eastern North America that overlaps broadly in distribution with C. lineolata. It is distinguished from the latter by having the standing pilosity on the mesosoma dorsum restricted to one to several setae on each pronotal humerus (MSC 2–7 vs. 15–26 in C. lineolata). The pilosity on the gaster is also sparser in C. cerasi (A4SC 4–14 vs. 16–42 in C. lineolata) but the postpetiolar seta is longer (PP-SL/PPW 0.42–0.54 vs. 0.28–0.43 in C. lineolata). For differences between C. cerasi and C. browni, see under the latter species.

Type notes: The four syntypes of C. cerasi in USNM are old and in poor condition; each is on a separate pin and labeled ‘N. Y.’, ‘Collection| T Pergande’ and ‘No 53583| U.S. N.M. |Cotype’. The specimens have also been assigned recent USNMENT specimen codes: 00921679, 00921680, 00921681 and 00529078. The last is in best condition and is here designated lectotype. Specific measurements of the lectotype are as follows: HW 1.05, HL 0.94, SL 0.80, ED 0.26, WL 1.14, MtFL 0.92, SPL 0.26, SPTD 0.61.

Distribution and biology: Crematogaster cerasi is widespread in eastern North America, from southern Canada to Florida. It occurs as far west as North Dakota (Wheeler & Wheeler, 1977), Colorado (Gregg, 1963; as ‘ Crematogaster lineolata ’) and northern New Mexico (material examined in LACM). Records on AntWeb of ‘ C. lineolata’ from Montana (FMNHINS0000108303) and South Dakota (FMNHINS0000109880) almost certainly refer to C. cerasi. This species nests in rotten logs, in stumps, under stones and directly in the soil, in both open habitats (grasslands, fields) and in woodlands (Wheeler & Wheeler, 1963; Johnson, 1988; Ellison et al., 2012; Deyrup, 2017). It is also known to colonize wooden structures in houses (Smith, 1965).