The western Mediterranean ant species Tetramorium forte Forel, 1904 is redescribed and a lectotype is designated. Taxonomic controversy surrounding the application of the name and its synonymy is thereby resolved: T. ruginode Stitz, 1917 (with its junior synonym T. hispanicum Bondroit, 1918), T. maurum tingitanum Santschi, 1929 and T. maroccanum De Haro & Collingwood, 1994 are relegated to synonymy with T. forte. Lectotypes are designated for T. hispanicum, T. maurum tingitanum, T. maroccanum and T. silvestrianum Emery, 1924. The latter taxon, previously regarded as a junior synonym of T. forte, is synonymized with Myrmica

Morphological examination of Strongylognathus specimens from 14 of 15 known sites in Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco revealed that only one species occurs in that part of the Palaearctic region. S. foreli Emery, 1922 falls into synonymy with S. afer Emery, 1884. Redescriptions of all morphs and allozyme data are provided. Four new records of S. afer are presented from Tunisia which extend the known range in this country to more southerly regions and allow some conclusions on ecological requirements. Observations of slave raids in the laboratory showed that S. afer is a dulotic social parasite using Tetramorium semilaeve André, 1883 as its host. Taxonomy, distribution and life history are discussed with respect to related species of the Mediterranean region.

No abstract

No abstract