Crematogaster (Crem.) maura Forel - new status

Type location Algeria (Crematogaster auberti r laestrygon Emery var maura, Forel, 1894d: 25; Crematogaster auberti var maura, Forel, 1909c: 104, worker) from Algeria, Oran - see below

Forel's (1894d) description is at .

This is a larger species than Crematogaster (Cr.) laestrygon and has distinct longitudinal striations on the head, a different head shape, large eyes and relatively short scapes (just reaching the occiput). Although mentioned by Santschi (1937e)  the only distinctions he offers from laestrygon forms are the striated head and then, from striaticeps, the colour of the scapes (darker on striaticeps). He described both as having matt heads but the type images show that both have shiny heads.

The photomontage of a type worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0908478

TL ca 4.2 mm, HL 1.05, HW 1.13, SL 0,86, PW 0.68; CI 109, SI 82, EI (EL/HL) 31.

Type laestrygon TL ca 3.5 mm (major), HL 0.92, HW 0.92, SL 0.79, PW 0.51; CI 100, SI 86, EI 0.26; scapes surpass the occiput by about 0.12 of their length. Eastern populations (Israel) have a larger major but the proportions are the same..