The ants (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Socotra Archipelago

This dataset contains the digitized treatments in Plazi based on the original journal article Collingwood, C. A., Pohl, F., Güsten, R., Wranik, W., van Harten, A. (2004): The ants (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Socotra Archipelago. Fauna of Arabia 20: 473-495, DOI: 0.5281/zenodo.12560Abstract: The ant species recorded from Socotra Island and the outlying islands of Samha, Darsa and Abd al-Kuri are listed and a key to the workers is presented. Scanning electron micrographs are provided to facilitate identification. Only 18 species have been identified, one of which - Monomorium nimihil Collingwood, 2003 n. sp. - is described as new. At least eight of these species, but probably more, have been transferred to the islands by human commerce. There is little evidence that ecosystems have been strongly influenced by alien ants up to now. Those ants most feared globally for their invasive potential and destructive impact on native fauna are yet absent from Socotra. To preserve this situation, diligent quarantine measures are of great importance.