Redescription of Crematogaster cypria Santschi, 1930, new status, with description of two new related species from Greece and Turkey (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Abstract Crematogaster (Crematogaster) jehovae var. cypria Santschi, 1930 is raised to species rank. Two new, related species are described from the north-eastern part of the Mediterranean Basin: Crematogaster (Crematogaster) erectepilosa sp. n. (Dodecanese, Greece) and Crematogaster (Crematogaster) gullukdagensis sp. n. (Antalya Prov., Turkey). These three species are well distinguished from other species of the subgenus Crematogaster of the north-eastern part of the Mediterranean Basin in their first gastral tergite bearing numerous erect setae. Colour photographs of all taxa are provided, a key to the species of Crematogaster cypria group and species groups of the Crematogaster s. str. from the north-eastern Mediterranean region are given and a list of Crematogaster s. str. described from this region is provided (see Appendix).


Introduction
The genus Crematogaster Lund, 1831, a member of the subfamily Myrmicinae, is one of the most speciose ant genera. The most recent catalogue lists 487 valid extant species (with fifty-three synonyms, five homonyms and five unavailable names) and 296 valid subspecies, one fossil species was also described (Bolton 2015). Twenty-four species from two subgenera (twenty-two species in Crematogaster s. str. and two in Orthocrema Santschi) have been so far recorded from Europe and the Mediterranean. In addition, many infraspecific valid names have also been proposed, some of them likely representing distinct taxa whose status needs revision (Borowiec 2014). Mediterranean species of the nominotypical subgenus are mostly similar morphologically and demonstrate a tendency to form local and geographical variations. As a result of that, the differences among species are often not well expressed and correct determination is hindered. Hitherto no key to all European and Mediterranean species has been published, except the outdated key by Santschi (1937), and only local keys exist (Collingwood 1978, Agosti and Collingwood 1987, Cagniant 2005, Seifert 2007, Karaman 2008, Taylor 2010. During our studies on the ants of Balkans and Cyprus we collected numerous Crematogaster samples and concluded that this group is more speciose than local catalogues and keys suggested. We also found some novel characters useful in distinguishing closely related taxa. In this paper we revise a small group of species well distinguished from all taxa of the region by having the first gastral tergite bearing numerous erect setae. This character has never been observed in taxa from the north-eastern part of the Mediterranean Basin but occurs in some North African species, e.g. Crematogaster oasium Santschi and some taxa of Crematogaster laestrygon complex (our unpublished data). eye index 3; EW/HL × 100. All lengths are in mm.
Colour uniformly brown or reddish-brown, mesosoma usually not or only slightly paler coloured than head and abdomen, antennae and legs the same colour as mesosoma (Figs 1, 2).
Head shape quadrate, approximately as wide or slightly wider than long (CI: 101.8 ± 2.13), posterior margin of head in full-face view straight and laterally rounded, occipital carinae distinct (Fig. 8). Antennal scapes reaching or surpassing head margin. Midline of eyes situated slightly above midline of head in full-face view, eyes moderately large (EI1: 24.2 ± 1.0) and slightly protruding. Pronotum laterally rounded, without sharp lateral margins, promesonotal suture indistinct, mesonotum without posterior face, more or less forming one plane with pronotum. Metanotal groove deep, laterally constricted; propodeal spines short, approximately two times as long as wide at base, spiniform, not curved downwards (Fig. 2). Dorsal face of propodeum short but distinct, convex in profile, posterior face of propodeum distinctly sloping, without or with a very shallow transverse groove. Petiole in dorsal view cordiform, dorsum flat, without posterolateral tubercules or denticles, sides carinate, subpetiolar process absent. Postpetiole distinctly bilobed, with a moderately broad median impression, subpostpetiolar process absent.
Head surface finely and sparsely punctate, without microreticulation between punctures, shiny. Masticatory margin of mandibles with four teeth, surface of mandibles distinctly carinate. Clypeus mostly smooth, only on sides with thin, short carinae. Antennal scrobes laterally with 5-7 short carinae not reaching to mid-length of eye. Whole surface of head appears shiny. Vestiture of head mostly with sparse, short, adjacent hairs and 5-8 long erect setae on frons and several long erect setae on underside. Antennal scapes on anterior and dorsal surface covered with suberect setae, on posterior surface basally with adjacent and distally suberect setae (Figs 8,11). Surface of scape microreticulate. Pronotum only dorsolaterally with short longitudinal rugae, anterior face punctate and microtuberculate at base of setae with very short and sparse carinae, posterior face with slightly carinate setose punctures, sometimes with very thin transverse wrinkles but surface of pronotum appears more or less shiny. Whole dorsal surface of pronotum bearing mixed sparse, short and suberect and long erect setae. Sides of pronotum mostly smooth and shiny with more or less distinct thin, transverse carinae. Mesonotum dorsally in anterior half mostly without sculpture, more or less shiny, without distinct median keel only close to promesonotal suture with small tubercle, in posterior half with thin transverse carinae. Surface of mesonotum with very sparse, short adjacent setae, one to two moderately long, erect setae in anterior part and two pairs of setae posterolaterally. Mesopleuron on whole surface with dense transverse carinae. Dorsal face of propodeum microreticulate, with longitudinal carinae and very sparse and short adjacent pubescence, slope of propodeum smooth and shiny, metapleuron on whole surface with dense, transverse carinae. Petiole on sides with one long and one short erect setae, postpetiolar tubercles with 2-3 erect setae. First gastral tergite with very short and sparse basic pubescence and on whole surface with sparse, moderately long erect setae (Fig. 2), subsequent tergites with row of erect setae along posterior margins. Whole surface of tergites with very fine microreticulation, appears shiny. First sternite with short and sparse basic pubescence and numerous long, erect setae. Legs bearing sparse, short, adjacent pubescence.
Distribution. Known only from Cyprus (Fig. 20). Biological data. Ants were collected on stems of shrubs, on ground around the shrubs, and on rocks. Locality near Avakas Gorge was located near sea shore, only 17 m a.s.l., in a shallow valley of an intermittent stream. The following ant species were recorded in the same area: Aphaenogaster sporadis Santschi, Camponotus cecconii Emery, Lepisiota sp., Messor cf. structor, Messor sp., Monomorium bicolor Emery, and Tapinoma simrothi Krausse. Locality on roadside between Panagia and Cedar Valley was situated in a montane pine forest at altitude of 755 m. The following ant species were recorded in the same area: Aphaenogaster sporadis Santschi Differential diagnosis. Crematogaster erectepilosa sp. n. differs from all species from the north-eastern part of the Mediterranean Basin, except C. cypria Santschi and C. gullukdagensis sp. n., in that the first gastral tergite bearing numerous erect setae. Crematogaster cypria is well distinguished by shorter propodeal spines and mesonotal keel (see key below). C. gullukdagensis is very similar but differs in having the antennal scape predominantly with subappressed and suberect setae (Fig. 11), while in C. erectepilosa sp. n. the setae on scape are mostly erect (Fig. 10). Head in full face view in C. erectepilosa sp. n. appears round, while in C. gullukdagensis sp. n. it is slightly square. Eyes in C. erectepilosa sp. n. are more round ) and in C. gullukdagensis sp. n. they are more oval (EI 69.5 ± 3.1 [63.4-73.6]). Body ground colour in C. erectepilosa sp. n. is darker, yellowish-brown to brown, in C. gullukdagensis sp. n. yellowish to pale yellowish-brown. Propodeal spines of C. erectepilosa sp. n. in most specimens are slightly curved down, while in C. gullukdagensis sp. n. propodeal spines are mostly straight, spine at base slightly thicker in C. erectepilosa sp. n. and thinner in C. gullukdagensis sp. n. Sides of pronotum in C. erectepilosa sp. n. in most specimens have fine longitudinal striation, while in C. gullukdagensis sp. n. they are mostly without striation, smooth and shiny.
Description Colour uniformly pale to dark brown, mesosoma not paler coloured than head and abdomen, legs the same colour, antennae only slightly paler coloured than mesosoma (Figs 3, 4).
Head shape almost round, approximately as wide as long (CI: 102.5 ± 1.9), posterior margin of head in full-face view straight and laterally rounded, occipital carinae distinct (Fig. 7). Antennal scapes slightly surpassing head margin. Midline of eyes situated slightly above midline of head in full-face view, eyes moderately large (EI1: 24.1 ± 0.7) and protruding. Pronotum laterally rounded, with sharp lateral margins, promesonotal suture absent, mesonotum without posterior face more or less forming one plane with pronotum. Metanotal groove deep, laterally constricted; propodeal spines long, 2.7-2.8 times as long as wide at base, spiniform, in most specimens slightly curved downwards (Fig. 4). Dorsal face of propodeum short but distinct, convex in profile, posterior face of propodeum distinctly sloping, without transverse groove. Petiole in dorsal view cordiform, dorsum flat or slightly concave, without posterolateral tubercules or denticles, sides carinate, subpetiolar process absent. Postpetiole distinctly bilobed, with a narrow median impression, subpostpetiolar process absent.
Head surface finely and sparsely punctate, without microreticulation between punctures, shiny. Masticatory margin of mandibles with four teeth, surface of mandibles distinctly carinate. Clypeus on whole surface with thin carinae or only in the middle carinae indistinct. Antennal scrobes laterally with 7-9 long carinae extending to mid length of eye, also genae with carinae and area behind eyes with thin carinae. Whole surface of head appears shiny. Vestiture of head mostly with sparse, short, suberect hairs and 5-8 long erect setae on frons and several long erect setae on underside. Antennal scapes on anterior and dorsal surface bearing long erect setae, on posterior surface basally with suberect and distally erect setae (Figs 7, 10). Surface of scape with indistinct microreticulation, shiny. Pronotum in anterior half and dorsolaterally with longitudinal rugae, posterior face with punctuation and sparse, very short carinae, surface of pronotum appears more or less shiny. Whole dorsal surface of pronotum bearing mixed sparse, short suberect and long erect setae. Sides of pronotum with more or less distinct thin, transverse carinae disappearing from anterior to posterior margin of pronotum but in most specimens well visible. Mesonotum dorsally on whole length with longitudinal and oblique rugae, more or less shiny, with distinct median keel in most specimens running from anterior margin of mesonotum to its ¾ length, in some specimens reaching to posterior margin of mesonotum. Surface of mesonotum with very sparse, short adjacent setae. Mesopleuron on whole surface with dense, transverse carinae. Dorsal face of propodeum with longitudinal carinae and very sparse and short adjacent pubescence, slope of propodeum smooth and shiny, metapleuron on whole surface with dense, transverse carinae. Petiole on sides and posterior half with long erect setae, also postpetiolar tubercles several erect setae. First gastral tergite with sparse, moderately long, suberect basic pubescence and on whole surface with sparse, moderately long erect setae (Fig. 2), subsequent tergites with row of erect setae along posterior margins. Whole surface of tergites with very fine microreticulation, appears shiny. First sternite with moderately long and sparse basic pubescence and numerous long, erect setae. Legs bearing sparse, moderately long, more or less erect pubescence.
Etymology. Named after erect setae on antennal scape. Distribution. Dodecanese Archipelago in Aegean Greece (Fig. 20). Biological data. The ants were collected on ground around shrubs and from shrub leaves and stems. Locality on Karpathos, Olympos was placed 429 m a.s.l. in dry, stony and rocky area with sparse shrubs. The following ant species were recorded in the same area: Aphaenogaster olympica Borowiec  Locality near Agios Nikolaos was located above the village. The vegetation at this locality is a Mediterranean shrubland and pine forest. The following ant species were recorded in the same area: Camponotus ionius Emery, Camponotus kiesenwetteri (Roger), Lepisiota melas (Emery), Pheidole pallidula (Nylander), Plagiolepis pallescens sensu Radchenko, Tetramorium cf. caespitum, and Tetramorium cf. punctatum.

Crematogaster gullukdagensis
Colour uniformly yellowish brown to pale brown, mesosoma not paler coloured than head and abdomen, legs and antennae the same colour as mesosoma (Figs 5, 6).
Head surface finely and sparsely punctate, without microreticulation between punctures, shiny. Masticatory margin of mandibles with four teeth, surface of mandibles distinctly carinate. Clypeus laterally with thin carinae, in the middle smooth or with indistinct carinae. Antennal scrobes laterally with 7-9 long carinae extending to mid length of eye, also genae with carinae and area behind eyes with thin carinae. Whole surface of head appears shiny. Vestiture of head mostly with sparse, short, adjacent to suberect hairs and 4-6 long erect setae on frons and several long erect setae on underside. Antennal scapes on anterior and dorsal surface bearing suberect setae, sometimes with 2-3 longer and more erect setae, on posterior surface basally with adjacent and distally suberect setae (Figs 9,12). Surface of scape with indistinct microreticulation, shiny. Pronotum dorsolaterally with longitudinal rugae, anterior face mostly sparsely punctate and at most with few very short rugae, posterior face only with punctuation, surface of pronotum appears more or less shiny. Whole dorsal surface of pronotum bearing mixed sparse, short adjacent to suberect and long erect setae. Sides of pronotum only in anterior half with more or less distinct thin, transverse carinae, posterior half in most specimens completely smooth. Mesonotum dorsally on sides with longitudinal and oblique rugae, centrally partly smooth, more or less shiny, with distinct median keel in most specimens running from anterior margin of mesonotum to its ½-⅔ length, never reaching to posterior margin of mesonotum. Surface of mesonotum with very sparse, short adjacent setae. Mesopleuron on whole surface with dense, transverse carinae. Dorsal face of propodeum laterally with longitudinal carinae, in central part more or less smooth, with very sparse and short adjacent pubescence, slope of propodeum smooth and shiny, metapleuron on whole surface with dense, transverse carinae. Petiole on sides and posterior half with long erect setae, also post-petiolar tubercles several erect setae. First gastral tergite with sparse, moderately long, adjacent to suberect basic pubescence and on whole surface with sparse, moderately long erect setae (Fig. 6), subsequent tergites with row of erect setae along posterior margins. Whole surface of tergites with very fine microreticulation, appears shiny. First sternite with moderately long and sparse basic pubescence and numerous long, erect setae. Legs bearing sparse, moderately long, adjacent to suberect pubescence.
Etymology. Named after terra typica: Güllük Dag mountains in Antalya Province of Turkey.
Distribution. SW Turkey (Fig. 20). Biological data. The ants were collected on the trunk of a small oak species and on ground around the tree. The type locality is in a montane area within the ancient Termessos city, at 1018 m a.s.l. The following ant species were recorded from the same area: Propodeal spines long, more than 2.5 times longer than width at base. Mesonotal keel long, longer than half length of mesonotum (Figs 4, 6) .............5 -Propodeal spines short, at most 2 times longer than width at base (Fig. 2). Mesonotal keel absent or forming very small tubercle close to promesonotal suture (Fig. 15) Antennal scape on anterior surface on whole length with erect setae (Fig. 10) Body distinctly bicoloured, head and mesosoma yellowish, red to reddishbrown, abdomen dark brown. Rugae on anterior part of pronotum usually transverse (Fig. 18)