The ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in the collection of William Nylander

Abstract

*[The ant collection of W. Nylander (Finnish Museum of Natural History, Helsinki) is investigated. The lectotypes of Myrmica rugulosa, M. sulcinodis, M. lobicornis, M. lobicornis var. lobulicornis, M. scabrinodis, M. ruginodis, M. laevinodis, & Formica picea are designated. The type specimens of the other species are considered as the syntypes (except of the earlier designated lectotypes & paralectotypes). New synonymy is established: Myrmica hirtula is junior synonym of Harpagoxenus sublaevis; Formica glebaria is a junior synonym of F. fusca (not of F. cunicularia!); Formica major is not a synonym of F. rufa rather it is a synonym of F. polyctena. However, I will apply to the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature with the proposition to suppress the name major & keep priority for the name F. polyctena. Some problems on the taxonomy of the different species are discussed, & the non-type material is partly re-determined.]