Revision of the Iridomyrmex purpureus species-group (Hymenoptera : Formicidae)

Abstract

The ants of the purpureus group of the dolichoderine genus Iridomyrmex are revised. The group is defined for the first time and divided into four complexes (bigi, purpureus, sanguineus, viridiaeneus). Three of the previously known taxa, I. purpureus purpureus (F. Smith), I. purpureus sanguineus Forel and I. purpureus viridiaeneus Viehmeyer, are redescribed and the last two are raised to full species, while I. detectus castrae Viehmeyer is synonymised under I. purpureus. Additionally, eight new species (I. bigi, I. galbanus, I. greensladei, I. lividus, I. reburrus, I. spadius, I. spodipilus, I. variscapus) are described. A key for the separation of workers is presented, and known biologies and distributions are summarised.