First record of Formica pratensis in a reedbed along the Nestos River near Xanthi, Greece (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Authors

  • Angelos Tsikas Democritus University of Thrace
  • Paraskevi Karanikola Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources, Laboratory of Forest Protection, Democritus University of Thrace, School of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8370-5126

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13133/2284-4880/1504

Keywords:

Formica pratensis, new record, reedbed, mutualism, Aphis urticata, Greece, Nestos Basin

Abstract

The ant Formica pratensis Retzius, 1783 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) is reported from a locality in Dasochori (Xanthi, Greece). Foraging workers were manually collected from the top of the mounds. This new observation represents the lowest altitude record in Greece and the first in a reedbed. Additionally, the mutualism with the aphid Aphis urticata Gmelin, 1790 has been observed.

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References

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Formica pratensis workers tending nettle aphids in Greece.

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Published

2024-12-10

How to Cite

Tsikas, A. and Karanikola, P. (2024) “First record of Formica pratensis in a reedbed along the Nestos River near Xanthi, Greece (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)”, Fragmenta entomologica, 56(2), pp. 255–256. doi: 10.13133/2284-4880/1504.

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Section

Short Scientific Notes