Notes on ants fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Iran (Part I)

Abstract

Ants are integral components of terrestrial ecosystems, and their diversity is crucial for the functioning and maintenance of many ecosystems. The aim of this study was identifying specimens collected from different habitats and localities in Esfahan and Chaharmahal Va Bakhtiari Provinces. Direct sampling (hand collecting) was used for collecting materials, and all specimens were preserved in 75% ethanol. As a result, a list of 42 identified species belonging to 13 genera of three subfamilies, collected from 66 sampling sites in Chaharmahal Va Bakhtiari and Esfahan Provinces, is given. Two species are recorded for the first time from Iran, namely Camponotus jaliensis Dalla Torre, 1893 and Tetramorium staerckei Kratochvíl, 1944. Also, fifteen and six species are recorded for the first time from Esfahan and Chaharmahal Va Bakhtiari Provinces, respectively. Result showed that the Iranian ant fauna is rich and in need of more faunistic studies.

Keywords

• ants
• esfahan
• chaharmahal va bakhtiari
• faunistic
• new record