Ant genus Strongylognathus (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Bulgaria: a preliminary review

Strongylognathus Mayr, 1853 is a Palaearctic genus, comprising 25 ant species, all permanent social parasites, infesting colonies of various species of Tetramorium Mayr, 1855. They have patchy distribution throughout their areas, and most of them are very rare and listed as vulnerable.The taxonomy of the Strongylognathus huberi group needs thorough revision and the results presented below can be considered as preliminary, but possibly useful for future studies.Four species of the socially parasitic ant genus Strongylognathus (S. karawajewi Pisarski, 1966, S. huberi dalmaticus Baroni Urbani, 1969, Strongylognathus cf. afer Emery, 1884 and Strongylognathus cf. italicus Finzi, 1924) are recorded for the first time from Bulgaria, and together with the previously known S. testaceus and S. bulgaricus their total number reaches six. The taxonomic position and geographic distribution of all species are discussed, and a Key for their identification based on worker caste is compiled.

Strongylognathus Mayr, 1853为一类分布遍及欧亚大陆的属群，该属包含25种蚂蚁，均为永久性社会寄生生物，寄生于多种Tetramorium Mayr, 1855属的蚁群之中。它们在其栖息区域内分布零散，其中大多数种类极为罕见，并被列为易危物种。Strongylognathus huberi组的分类学需要全面修订，以下所呈现的结果可视为初步研究，但或许对未来研究具有一定的参考价值。首次记录了社会寄生蚁属Strongylognathus中的四种新物种，分别为S. karawajewi Pisarski, 1966、S. huberi dalmaticus Baroni Urbani, 1969、Strongylognathus cf. afer Emery, 1884及Strongylognathus cf. italicus Finzi, 1924，连同已知的S. testaceus和S. bulgaricus，共计六种。本文对全部物种的分类地位及地理分布进行了深入探讨，并编制了基于工蚁群体的鉴定关键表。