Lepisiota frauenfeldi (Mayr)

List as in Bolton (1995: 227) -
Type location Croatia (Hypoclinea frauenfeldi, Mayr, 1855: 378, worker; Roger, 1859: 243, queen; Emery, 1878b: 46, male) - no type images on Antweb (September 2015).
junior synonyms
azerbeidzhanica (Acantholepis frauenfeldi Mayr var. azerbeidzhanica nov., Karavaiev, 1932: 250, illustrated, worker; synonymy Arakelian, 1994: 81) from Azerbaijan
caucasica (Acantholepis Frauenfeldi Mayr var. caucasica n. v., Santschi, 1917d: 43, worker; species in Agosti & Collingwood, 1987a: 57; synonymy Arakelian, 1994: 81) from Caucasus
subspecies
aegyptiaca (Acantholepis frauenfeldi var. aegyptiaca nov., Finzi, 1936: 184, illustrated, worker) from Egypt
atlantis (Acantholepis Frauenfeldi Mayr v. atlantis n. v., Santschi, 1917d: 42, worker & queen) from Algeria
barbara (Acantholepis Frauenfeldi Mayr v. barbara n. v., Santschi, 1917d: 44, illustrated,worker) from Tunisia
bipartita (Formica bipartita, F Smith, 1861a: 33, worker; André, 1882b: 211, queen; Karavaiev, 1910b: 44, male) from Lebanon
ferganica (Acantholepis frauenfeldi ferganica nov. subsp., Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929c: 490, illustrated, worker) from Turkestan
integra (Acantholepis frauenfeldi Mayr var. A. integra n. var., Forel, 1894c: 411, in key, worker) from India
kantarensis (Acantholepis Frauenfeldi Mayr v. kantarensis n. var., Forel, 1911d: 351, worker) from Algeria
kassansai (Acantholepis frauenfeldi kassansai ssp. nov., Tarbinsky, 1976: 132, illustrated, worker; in Russian) from Kirgizia
libanica (Acantholepis Frauenfeldi Mayr v. libanica n. v., Santschi, 1921a: 115, worker) from Syria
marocana (Acantholepis frauenfeldi Mayr v. marocana n. v., Santschi, 1936c: 206, illustrated, worker - unavailable) from Morocco
opaciventris (Acantholepis frauenfeldi var. opaciventris nov., Finzi, 1936: 187, illustrated, worker) from Egypt
pubescens (Acantholepis frauenfeldi var. pubescens nov., Forel, 1892a: 41, in key, worker) from Tunisia
saharensis (Acantholepis Frauenfeldi Mayr stirps saharensis n. st., Santschi, 1917d: 44, illustrated, worker) from Algeria
surchanica (Acantholepis frauenfeldi surchanica subsp. nov., Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929c: 491, illustrated, worker) from Turkestan
truncata (Acantholepis Frauenfeldi Mayr stirps integra For. v. truncata n. var., Santschi, 1917d: 44, worker; Finzi, 1940: 162, worker & queen) from Tunisia
variabilis (Acantholepis Frauenfeldi Mayr v. variabilis n. v., Santschi, 1917d: 43, worker) from Tunisia
velox (Acantholepis Frauenfeldi Mayr stirps integra For. v. velox n. var., Santschi, 1917d: 44, worker; Baroni Urbani, 1968b: 480, all forms) from Tunisia
all forms described (see Bingham, 1903: 316; Santschi, 1917d: 42; H Tohmé, 1981: 1; and Atanassov & Dulssky, 1992: 205).

This list quite clearly is wholly misleading and the "species" is in a highly confused and poorly differentiated state. Simply on the basis of historic descriptions and illustrations, I have attempted to bring some clarity and, hence, this analysis page. The links are to the key sections below.

Mayr's (1855) description is on .

Translation of Mayr (1855) description of the type form [translation from German, Marcus Stüben, 15.11.2006]
Hypoclinea frauenfeldi Mayr 1855 Lepisiota frauenfeldi (Mayr 1855)
[latin description] (...) TL 2,5 - 3mm [further parts of the Latin description match the German description]
"WORKER: brownish black or pitch-black, the ventral side of the head, the antennae except the funiculus end of the scape (= distal part of the scape), the alitrunk, the joints of the legs and the tarsi brownish yellow-red, sometimes the alitrunk has dark spots on the pronotum and on part of the mesonotum, also quite often on the propodeum [metanotum]. The shiny body is nearly hairless, just the mandibles, the antennae and the legs are more pilose. The head is broader than the alitrunk and nearly egg-shaped. The mandibles are very shallowly and extensively wrinkled (= rugose) and their inner (= masticatory) margin dentate. The clypeus is carinate, seemingly smooth but with higher magnification it is very shallowly and extensively wrinkled (= rugose)), behind the frontal margin and along this margin there is a shallow groove. The frontal carinae are very narrow. The scape of the 11-segmented antennae is very long, reaching - if put back - back until the frontal margin of the mesonotum and is thickened at the funiculus end (= distal part); the funiculus is longer than the scape, filiform and apically a little thicker than the basal part. The frontal triangle [= Stirnfeld], forehead and occiput are seemingly smooth, but with higher magnification they appear very shallowly and extensively wrinkled (= rugose). The median frontal groove is indistinct. The occiput is not sinuate. The alitrunk is finely rugose, the mesonotum is compressed laterally, the basal part of the propodeum is higher than the mesonotum and formed in such a way that the two teeth are at the tip of the propodeum, which is hollowed between the two teeth. The petiole is high and thick, above strongly cut out semicircularly, so as to form two very acute and long teeth and produced on either sides [really two teeth on either sides of the petiole??]. The egg-shaped gaster is finely rugose, broader and nearly as long as the alitrunk. The legs are long. This very delicate and slim species was previously found only at Sign in Dalmatia by Mr. Frauenfeld."

Agosti & Collingwood (1987b) separated frauenfeldi and Lepisiota nigra, both being at least mainly dark, with alitrunk no more than slightly sculptured and the petiole toothed, by the first having part of the alitrunk usually with a small patch of red and the pronotum sculptured; while the latter is wholly black and has a smooth pronotum. Recorded once from Saudi Arabi by Collingwood (1985: 295) and not listed from the Arabian Peninsula by Collingwood & Agosti (1996).

Lepisiota semenovi (Ruzky) - no type images on Antweb (September 2015)

List as in Bolton (1995: 228) -
Type location Russia (Acantholepis frauenfeldi var. semenovi nov. var, Ruzky, 1905b: 461, worker; ssp of frauenfeldi in Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929c: 485; raised to species Pisarski, 1967: 410 & Dlussky & Zabelin, 1985: 235)
junior synonyms (all originally described as varieties of frauenfeldi; apparently due to Dlussky & Zabelin, 1985: 163-165 or Dlussky, Soyunov & Zabelin, 1990: 163)
arnoldovi (Acantholepis frauenfeldi var. arnoldovi nov. var., Ruzky, 1905b: 462, worker) from Turkestan
coriacea (A. frauenfeldi coriacea nov. subsp., Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929c: 487, illustrated, worker) from Turkestan
deserticola (A. fr.deserticola, Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929c: 485, illustrated, worker) from Turkestan
halinae (A. frauenfeldi halinae subsp. nov., Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929c: 489, illustrated, worker) from Turkestan
integrisquama (A. frauenfeldi integrisquama nov. subsp., Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929c: 486, illustrated, worker) from Turkestan
karawaiewi (st melas var karawaiewi, Sanstchi, 1917d: 44; Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929c: 483, worker; raised to species Pisarski, 1967) from Turkestan
latisquama (A. frauenfeldi latisquama nov. subsp., Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929c: 487, illustrated, worker) from Turkestan
litoralis (A. fr. litoralis, Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929c: 488, illustrated, worker) from Turkestan
mediorubra (A. frauenfeldi mediorubra nov. subsp., Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929c: 486, illustrated, worker) from Turkestan
spinisquama (A. frauenfeldi spinisquama nov. subsp., Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929c: 483, illustrated, worker; raised to species Pisarski, 1967: 41; most recent useage Lepisiota spinisquama by Collingwood & Agosti, 1996: 369) from Turkestan - now ? Uzbekistan
transcaspiensis (A. frauenfeldi Mayr v. transcaspiensis n. var., Santschi, 1917d: 43, worker; Karavaiev, 1926e: 188, queen & male)
turkmena (A. frauenfeldi turkmena nov. subsp., Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929c: 488, illustrated, worker) from Turkestan
unavailable names
infumata (A. frauenfeldi turkmena var. infumata nov. var., Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929c: 489, worker) from Turkestan (no images on Antweb, September 2015)
minuta (A. frauenfeldi karawajewi Santschi, 1917, var. minuta nov. var., Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929c: 484, illustrated, worker) from Turkestan; worker only described (no images on Antweb, September 2015)

Historic Keys -
Forel's (1892a) key with separation of four varieties (bipartita, syriaca, sericea and pubescens), is at .
Forel's (1894c) key with a short description of integra is at .
Santschi (1917d) gave a review of the then known species that; with an illustration of petiole shapes, and adding eleven new varieties or strains, is at .
Kuznetsov-Ugamsky (1929c) reviewed numerous specimens he had collected in Turkestan (primarily across the south of modern Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) and provided a key to the many forms he chose to describe as new subspecies or varieties of frauenfeldi; this is at .

Modern Revisions
Agosti & Collingwood (1987b) separated frauenfeldi and nigra, both being at least mainly dark, with alitrunk no more than slightly sculptured and the petiole toothed, by the former having part of the alitrunk usually with a small patch of red and the pronotum sculptured; while the latter is wholly black and has a smooth pronotum.

As with "frauenfeldi" semenovi is an obvious mess and I have tried to produce some clarity in the table that follows. A puzzle is why Kuznetsov-Ugamsky (1929c) lumped together forms with obviously very different petiole shapes under one heading as varieties of frauenfeldi. Then after Pisarski (1967) separated off some as species, Dlussky and his colleagues separated semenovi but lumped Pisarski's species back under semenovi.

Analysis of "Lepisiota frauenfeldi" workers - 2015

Petioles with smoothly rounded sides
¤	Petiole scale with summit simply pointed - North Africa (Sahara desert) - saharensis
¤	Petiole with smoothly curved sides and with a quite deeply impressed summit (in anterior view), but elongated with the apical corners spinose or sharply dentate - North Africa - barbara
¤	Petiole with smoothly curved sides and with a quite deeply impressed summit (in anterior view), the apical corners essentially obtuse - Southern Europe - frauenfeldi-group
¤	Petiole usually wider, the sides smoothly curved with widest part in upper one-third, and with the summit no more than shallowly impressed, the corners bluntly rounded; head in full-face view sub-ovoid with near straight occiput - east-central Asia - semenovi-group
Petioles with angular sides
¤	with distinctly angular sides but with the petiole as wide as it is high and a quite deeply impressed summit, the apical corners with acute angles - eastern Mediterranean & east-central Asia - bipartita-group
¤	Petiole with distinctly angular sides but with the petiole width only about 40% of the height and a deeply impressed summit, the apical corners with acute angles - eastern Mediterranean & east-central Asia - karawaiewi-group
¤	Petiole usually wider and with the summit no more than shallowly impressed, the corners bluntly rounded - North Africa (Tunisia) - velox-group
Petioles with broadly angular sides and straight summits
¤	Petiole usually wider and with the summit near straight or very shallowly impressed, sides angular, the corners sub-rectangular; propodeum spinose; all with silky appearance - South-central Asia and Indian subcontinent - sericea-group
¤	Petiole summit straight or nearly so - South-central Asia and Indian subcontinent - kassansai (Kirgizia), integra (Indian subcontinent
Provisional key to separate species of moderately elongated Lepisiota from southern Europe, North Africa and East-Central Asia.	The Kuznetsov-Ugamsky (1929c) index of petiole dimensions seems useful, although not covering all species, and is cited as KI b/a - f/a - g/c - e/d

¤	(Acantholepis frauenfeldi Mayr v. marocana n. v., Santschi, 1936c: 206, illustrated, worker) from Morocco - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0912384 Santschi's (1936a) description of marocana is on	[ssp of frauenfeldi in Bolton, 1995] Morocco - marocana
¤	TL 2.3 mm; petiole scale with dorsal border lightly incised; separable from type frauenfeldi by head narrowing less anteriorly with the type the head is almost oval in aegyptiaca it is elongated; (Acantholepis frauenfeldi var aegyptiaca nov., Finzi, 1936: 184, illustrated, worker) from Egypt Finzi's (1936) description of aegyptiaca is on	Raised to species  new status [ssp of frauenfeldi in Bolton, 1995] Egypt - aegyptiaca
¤	TL 2.8 mm; wholly opaque black, part of mesonotum dorsum shiny, gaster silky with blueish reflections, of the sericea type but head narrower, appendages yellow, scape of the bipartita type; propodeum weakly spined; head elongated with anterior of sides sub-parallel and a little wider than the alitrunk; a few erect hairs on the head and segment margins of gaster; (Acantholepis frauenfeldi var opaciventris nov., Finzi, 1936: 187, illustrated, worker) from Egypt - no type images on Antweb (October 2014) Finzi's (1936) description of opaciventris is on May be a simple junior synonym of Lepisiota gracilicornis.	[ssp of frauenfeldi in Bolton, 1995] Egypt - opaciventris
¤	(Acantholepis frauenfeldi (Mayr) var arnoldovi nov. var., Ruzky, 1905b: 462, worker, in Russian) from Turkestan - no images on Antweb (October 2014) 4128 Ruzsky, M. 1905. [The ants of Russia.] (Formicariae Imperii Rossici.) Tr. Obshch. Estest. Imp. Kazansk. Univ. 38: 1-800.	[ssp of semenovi in Bolton, 1995] Turkestan - arnoldovi
??	TL 3.2-4.0 mm; mesonotum wider (than type frauenfeldi); more abundant and coarser pubescence; black and shiny (from Forel, 1892a) (Acantholepis Frauenfeldi Mayr var. pubescens n. var., Forel, 1892a: 41, in key, worker; stirps of frauenfeldi, Santschi, 1917d: 43) from Tunisia	[ssp of frauenfeldi in Bolton, 1995] Tunisia - pubescens
.	.	.
1	Petiole scale in anterior view elongated, dorsal border edentate rounded, straight or slightly convex	2
--	Petiole scale in anterior view with dorsal border dentate to spinose	10
2	Brief description: petiole scale in anterior view with dorsal border reduced so effectively absent; TL 3.0-3.3 mm; smooth and shiny; generally red with base of gaster rust, remainder of gaster black - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0912385 (Santschi, 1917d: 44, illustrated, worker) from Algeria	[ssp of frauenfeldi in Bolton, 1995] Algeria - saharensis
--	Petiole scale in anterior view with obvious dorsal margin	3
3	Petiole with angles close to dorsum; head elongate (Tarbinsky, 1976: 132, illustrated, worker; in Russian) from Kirgizia - no images on Antweb (October 2014) Tarbinsky's (1976) description is at .	[ssp of frauenfeldi in Bolton, 1995] Kirgizia - kassansai
--	Petiole without angles or angles near mid-point of petiole sides; head relatively short and square to oval	4
4	Wholly black other than appendages; shiny; TL 3.0-3.2 mm; head somewhat oval; scapes surpass occiput by > 3/5 of own length; propodeum bispinose; petiole without spines; partly shiny and partly opaque (reticulated); black with appendages brownish-yellow (Forel, 1894c: 411, in key, worker; race L. frauenfeldi race integra in Forel 1906b: 86 - "form derived from the palearctic fauna") from India. See http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0909888 Forel's (1894c) key with a short description of integra is at .	[ssp of frauenfeldi in Bolton, 1995] Indian subcontinent - integra
--	Variably coloured but not wholly black other than appendages	5
5	Overall appearance silky	sericea-group (?) - 6
--	Overall appearance shiny on almost all of head, alitrunk and gaster	7
	Appearance generally finely sculptured and silky	.
6	TL 3.0-3.5 mm; head flatter and wider, especially posteriorly (than type frauenfeldi); subopaque and silky; dark brown; propodeum bispinose (Acantholepis frauenfeldi var sericea, Forel, 1892a: 41, diagnosis in key , worker; raised to species by Pisarski, 1967: 408); Menozzi (1939a: 312, 339) recorded findings in India - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0909885	[sp sericea in Bolton, 1995] Indian subcontinent - sericea
--	TL 2.7-3.0 mm; head dark brown, antennae, alitrunk and petiole dusky red-brown, gaster black; KI 0.53 - 1.57 - 0.10 - 0.47 (Acantholepis frauenfeldi halinae subsp. nov., Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929c: 489, illustrated, worker; synonymised with sericea by Pisarski, 1967: 408; with semenovi by Dlussky, Soyunov & Zabelin, 1990: 165) from Turkestan - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0912404 Kuznetsov-Ugamsky's (1929c) description of halinae is on	[ssp of semenovi in Bolton, 1995] Turkestan - halinae
--	TL 2.7-3.9 mm; head near square; head and alitrunk matt due to microscopic granulation; overall black, alitrunk sometimes slightly reddish; KI 0.60 - 1.27 - 0.125 - 0.67 (Acantholepis frauenfeldi coriacea nov. subsp., Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929c: 487, illustrated, worker; synonymised with semenovi by Dlussky, Soyunov & Zabelin, 1990: 165) from Turkestan - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0912403 Kuznetsov-Ugamsky's (1929c) description of coriacea is on	[ssp of semenovi in Bolton, 1995] Turkestan - coriacea
--	TL 2.8-3.5 mm; head and alitrunk subopaque to matt and densely reticulate or reticulo-punctate; gaster shiny, more feebly shagreened (Acantholepis Frauenfeldi Mayr v. Kantarensis n. var., Forel, 1911d: 351, worker) from Algeria - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0909886 Forel's (1911d) description of kantarensis is at .	[ssp of frauenfeldi in Bolton, 1995] Algeria - kantarensis
	Appearance generally shiny	.
7	Alitrunk variably red	North Africa - velox-group - 8
--	Alitrunk variable usually darker	Central Asia - semenovi-group - 9
8	TL 3.2-3.7 mm; smooth or very finely reticulate and shiny; mid-alitrunk, base of petiole, antennae, articulations of legs and tarsi rust, gaster black; nest preference in sandy soil; rapid mover (Acantholepis frauenfeldi  stirps integra v. velox n. var., Santschi, 1917d: 44, worker, brief description; Baroni Urbani, 1968b: 480, all forms [unavailable]) from Tunisia - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0912388 Baroni Urbani's (1968b) observations are on	[ssp of frauenfeldi in Bolton, 1995] Tunisia - velox
--	TL 2.6-2.8 mm; generally as velox but smaller; from same environment (Acantholepis frauenfeldi stirps integra var. truncata n. var., Santschi, 1917d: 44, worker; Finzi, 1940: 162, worker & queen) from Tunisia - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0912386	[ssp of frauenfeldi in Bolton, 1995] Tunisia & Libya - truncata
--	TL 1.6-2.2 mm; generally darker and always much smaller; montane species (Acantholepis frauenfeldi stirps integra var minima n. var., Santschi, 1917d: 45, illustrated, worker (petiole above)) from Tunisia - see https://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0912382	[ssp of frauenfeldi in Bolton, 1995 - listed as unavailable name] Tunisia - minima
	Alitrunk variably but mainly dark - semenovi-group	.
9	TL 2.5-3.0 mm; head a long oval; whole body with extensive protruding pilosity, also with fine, microscopic granulation, finer on the gaster, semi-matt; generally black, with reddish patches on the alitrunk; KI 0.64 - 1.60 - 0.0 - 0.38 (Acantholepis frauenfeldi integrisquama nov. subsp., Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929c: 486, illustrated, worker); junior synonym of semenovi, Dlussky, Soyunov & Zabelin, 1990: 165) from Turkestan - no images on Antweb (October 2014) Kuznetsov-Ugamsky's (1929c) description of integrisquama is on	[ssp of semenovi in Bolton, 1995] Turkmenistan - integrisquama
--	TL 2.6-3.5 mm; head square; with sparse erect pilosity; very finely microscopically reticulate but shiny; gaster black or black-brown, alitrunk red or yellow-red also most of legs, head and coxae dark red; KI 0.65 - 1.58 - 0.0 - 0.23 from Turkestan (Acantholepis frauenfeldi var semenovi nov. var, Ruzky, 1905b: 461, worker; ssp of frauenfeldi in Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929c: 485; raised to species Pisarski, 1967: 410 - without comments - & Dlussky & Zabelin, 1985: 235 - unavailable as HNS No is wrong) - no type images on Antweb (October 2014) Kuznetsov-Ugamsky's (1929c) description (from Ruzsky, 1905) of semenovi is on	[sp semenovi in Bolton, 1995] Turkmenistan - semenovi
--	TL 3.0-3.5 mm; overall black, alitrunk with scattered redder areas; appendages brown-red, base of scapes and tarsi lighter; KI 0.56 - 1.56 - 0.05 - 0.39 (Acantholpeis frauenfeldi ferganica nov. subsp., Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929c: 490, illustrated, worker) from Turkestan - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0912381 Kuznetsov-Ugamsky's (1929c) description of ferganica is on	[ssp of frauenfeldi in Bolton, 1995] Turkestan - ferganica
--	TL 2.6-3.2 mm; petiole with only shallow impression and angular corners rather than spines; head, alitrunk and appendages dark brown-red, rest lighter; KI 0.55 - 1.59 - 0.11 - 0.43 (Acantholepis frauenfeldi surchanica subsp. nov., Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929c: 491, illustrated, worker) from Turkestan - no images on Antweb (October 2014) Kuznetsov-Ugamsky's (1929c) description of surchanica is on	[ssp of frauenfeldi in Bolton, 1995] Turkestan - surchanica
--	TL 2.5 mm; scapes long SI > 190; petiole narrower, very shiny; propodeum with distinct spines; brown-black, appendages more brown; maximum width at less than twice the depth of the scale incision; from Crete - non-type images at http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0906265 (Acantholepis frauenfeldi Mayr var splendens nova., Karavaiev, 1912b: 586, worker & queen; raised to species by Agosti & Collingwood, 1987a: 57) Karavaiev's (1912b) description is on [Karavaiev, V. 1912. Ameisen aus dem paläarktischen Faunengebiete. Russk. Entomol. Obozr., 12, 581-596]	[sp splendens in Bolton, 1995] Crete & Corfu and Egypt - splendens
--	TL 2.8-3.2 mm; head square; very finely microscopically reticulate but shiny; dark brown, alitrunk red, coxae dark black-brown; KI 0.58 - 1.62 - 0.18 - 0.34 (Acantholepis frauenfeldi ssp deserticola, Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929c: 485, illustrated, worker); junior synonym of semenovi, Dlussky, Soyunov & Zabelin, 1990: 165) from Turkestan - no images on Antweb (September 2015) Kuznetsov-Ugamsky's (1929c) description of deserticola is on	[ssp of semenovi in Bolton, 1995] Turkmenistan - deserticola
--	TL 2.8-3.2 mm; head square; very finely microscopically reticulate but shiny; dark brown, alitrunk red, coxae dark black-brown; KI 0.68 - 1.77 - 0.38 - 0.57 (Acantholepis frauenfeldi litoralis subsp. nov., Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929c: 488, illustrated, worker); junior synonym of semenovi, Dlussky, Soyunov & Zabelin, 1990: 165) from Turkestan - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0912406 Kuznetsov-Ugamsky's (1929c) description of litoralis is on	[ssp of semenovi in Bolton, 1995] Turkmenistan - litoralis
--	Black specimens from desert areas with workers TL 2.8-3.0 mm (Acantholepis frauenfeldi var nigra Em., Dalla Torre, 1893: 171, all forms; species status Zimmermann, 1935: 45; confirmed by Agosti & Collingwood, 1987a: 57) - Bolton (1995: 228) has this as type location Italy (Capri) but note the confusing entry by Emery (1878b) as "Persia settent. (Doria)". Dalla Torre's (1893) paper simply provides a list of names; this is on . The name nigra is ascribed to Emery (1878b: 46; 1881b: 527; and it appears by letter to Dalla Torre) - this is on .
--	In his key, Finzi (1936: 188) noted - petiole scale large (bipartita type); maximum width at about about double the depth of the incision of the scale. Tarbinsky (1976: 129) considered nigra and frauenfeldi kassanasi (see above) providing illustrations of the nigra sexual stages; the text, however, is in Russian Tarbinsky's (1976) description is at .	[sp nigra in Bolton, 1995] Iran/Iraq and Egypt - nigra
--	TL 2.6-3.2 mm; head near square, with distinctly convex sides; propodeal spines short and broadly based; head and alitrunk finely granulate, semi-matt, gaster shiny; generally black, some reddish areas on alitrunk; KI 0.47- 1.37 - 0.23 - 0.52 (Acantholepis frauenfeldi latisquama subsp. nov., Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929c: 487, illustrated, worker; junior synonym of semenovi by Dlussky, Soyunov & Zabelin, 1990: 165) from Turkestan - no images on Antweb (September 2015) Kuznetsov-Ugamsky's (1929c) description of latisquama is on	[ssp of semenovi in Bolton, 1995] Turkestan - latisquama
	--Petiole with distinct teeth or spines - frauenfeldi-group, bipartita-group and karawaiewi-group	.
10	Petiole scale in anterior view a variably elongate hexagon	Primarily east-central Asia species - bipartita-group - 11
--	Petiole scale in anterior view variably elongate with smoothly arcuate sides	frauenfeldii group - 15
	Petiole scale in anterior view angular; in profile scale relatively low and thick	.
11	Petiole elongate; KI b/a ca 0.68, f/a ca 0.40	karawaiewi-group - 12
--	Petiole relatively wide; KI b/a < 0.68; f/a ca 1.00	bipartita-group - 13
12	TL 2.8-3.1 mm; generally smooth and shiny; overall colour black, mid-alitrunk dark brown-red, appendages yellowish-brown; KI 0.68 - 1.86 - 0.45 - 0.86 (Acantholepis frauenfeldi mediorubra nov. subsp., Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929c: 486, illustrated, worker; junior synonym of semenovi, Dlussky, Soyunov & Zabelin, 1990: 163s) from Turkestan - no images on Antweb (September 2015) Kuznetsov-Ugamsky's (1929c) description of mediorubra is on	[ssp of semenovi in Bolton, 1995] Turkestan - mediorubra
--	TL 3.0-3.5 mm; whole body finely reticulate and matt, pro- and mesonotum slightly shiny; overall colour blackish-brown, funiculi and tasi lighter, alitrunk reddish brown with dark patches As species in Bolton (1995: 227); (Acantholepis kabulica sp. n., Pisarski, 1967: 409, illustrated, worker) Afghanistan - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0912396 Pisarski's (1967) description is on	[sp in Bolton, 1995] Afghanistan - kabulica
--	TL 2.8-3.0 mm; frontal notch of head well-marked; often with an elongated groove on the pronotum alitrunk at least partly densely reticulate; pilosity transparent; black, legs brown, mandibles and antennae clear rust (Santschi, 1917d). KI 0.52 - 1.69 - 0.40 - 0.75 (Acantholepis frauenfeldi stirps melas var karawaiewi n. v., Sanstchi, 1917d: 44; Acantholepis frauenfeldi ssp karawaiewi, Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929c: 483, worker; raised to species Pisarski, 1967; junior synonym of semenovi, Dlussky, Soyunov & Zabelin, 1990: 163) from Turkestan - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0912405 Kuznetsov-Ugamsky's (1929c) description of karawaiewi with variety minuta is on	[ssp of semenovi in Bolton, 1995] Turkestan - karawaiewi
	Petiole scale in anterior view angular but about as wide as it is high	.
13	TL 3.0-3.5 mm; slender; red, gaster black (Acantholepis frauenfeldi var melanogaster n., Emery 1915h: 4, worker; Karavaiev, 1926e: 189, queen & male; stirps of frauenfeldi in Santschi, 1917d: 47 [key]; raised to species, Pisarsky, 1967: 410; Arnold'i & Dlussky, 1978: 551 {in key]) from Turkestan. [3873 Emery, C. 1915. Escursioni zoologiche del Dr. Enrico Festa nell'Isola di Rodi. XII. Formiche. Boll. Mus. Zool. Anat. Comp. R. Univ. Torino 30, 1-7.] Emery's (1915h) description is on Pisarski (1967: 410 noted bipartita of Karavaiev, 1910b [see below] in part. See http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0905147	[sp in Bolton, 1995] Transcaucasia - melanogaster
--	TL 2.5-3.0 mm (3.0-3.5 mm, Karavaiev from Transcaspasia); alitrunk subopaque; head weakly shiny; colour head and alitrunk reddish, gaster brown (scapes surpass occiput by 3/5 own length, Forel 1894c: 411)	[ssp of frauenfeldi in Bolton, 1995] "Eastern Persia" (Forel, 1904) Lebanon - bipartita
--	TL 2.0-3.2 mm; petiole scale acutely dentate; propodeum with short teeth about than 0.5 X basal space; clypeus with weaker median carina; less shiny but finely and distinctly reticulate; alitrunk black with no more than mesonotum red André (1882b: 211) noted this variety as from Beirut with a small size; close to bipartita in colour and appearance. However, its behaviour ("allures") is quite different and the queens are distinct from those of the type and of bipartita (Acantholepis frauenfeldi ssp syriaca, André, 1881b: 61, illustrated [Plate unavailable], all forms; raised to species by Tohmé & Tohmé, 1980c: 518) from Lebanon, Beirut André's (1881b) description of syriaca is on Finzi's (1936: 185) illustrated description of syriaca is on Tohmé & Tohmé (1980c) reviewed the status and described the sexual stages; this is at . Reference is made to - Tohmé & Tohmé 1975. Description des castes d'Acantholpeis frauenfeldi, Mayr et des différents stades larvaires. Bull. Soc. ent. Egypte, 59, 131-141 - not listed in Bolton (1995) nor in HNS - no images on Antweb (September 2015)	[sp in Bolton, 1995] Lebanon - syriaca
-	TL 2.3-3.6 mm; close to bipartita but - alitrunk shinier and less sulptured; propodeum also shinier, spines sharp; clear red, gaster black-brown often basally rusty (Acantholepis frauenfeldi var caucasica n. v., Santschi, 1917d: 43, worker; raised to species by Agosti & Collingwood, 1987a: 57; synonym of frauenfeldi, Arakelian, 1994: 81) from Caucasus - no images on Antweb (September 2015)	[junior synonym of frauenfeldi in Bolton, 1995] Caucasus - caucasica
-	TL 3.0-3.5 mm (3.2-3.6 mm Kuznetsv); close to bipartita but much shinier and smoother; head and femora often darker, brown to blackish-brown (specimens from Karavaiev) (Acantholepis frauenfeldi v. transcaspiensis n. var., Santschi, 1917d: 43, worker; Karavaiev, 1926e: 188, queen & male) from Russia - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0912408	[ssp of semenovi in Bolton, 1995] Russia - transcaspiensis
	Petiole scale in anterior view variably elongate with smoothly arcuate sides	.
14	TL 3.5; head oval with rounded sides and a straight occipitum; pronotum flattened medially; propodeal spines long and curved, petiole spines very long; head shiny, propodeum sculptured, gaster brilliant; scattered short black erect hairs, on head extending around the eye; head and alitrunk clear red, gaster dark but with base of first tergite testaceous, appendages brown to pale red (Collingwood 1985: 293, illustrated, worker) from Saudi Arabia - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0912368	[sp in Bolton, 1995] Saudi Arabia - arabica
--	Propodeum and petiole with short straight spines; also in profile quite high and slender alitrunk partly red or entirely black; dorsum with scattered fine pale hairs most on pronotum	15
15	Pronotum obviously convex	16
--	Pronotum flat or no more than slightly convex	frauenfeldi-group - 18
16	TL 2.2-2.5 mm; head slightly flattened with occiput near straight; pronotum obviously convex; petiole scale scalloped, bidentate with sides angular; erect hairs scarce and yellowish; pubescence very short and transparent; very smooth and shiny, mesonotum slightly reticulate; head, femora and gaster brownish-black, alitrunk red, with a slight brown area on mesonotum; appendages also red; shinier than type frauenfeldi with pronotum more convex (Acantholepis frauenfeldi var atlantis n. var., Santschi, 1917d: 42, worker & queen) from Algeria - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0912379	[ssp of frauenfeldi in Bolton, 1995] Algeria & Tunisia - atlantis
--	Alitrunk wholly black (?)	17
17	TL 2.8-3.6 mm; petiole scale acutely dentate; propodeum with short stout spines, more than 0.75 X basal space; alitrunk entirely black; KI 0.58 - 2.00 - 0.55 - 0.54
.		[ssp of semenovi in Bolton, 1995] Turkestan - spinisquama
--	TL 3.0-3.3 mm; petiole scale acutely dentate; propodeum with long thin curved spines, more than 0.75 X basal space; KI 0.53 - 1.71 - 0.21 - 0.50 (Acantholepis frauenfeldi turkmena nov. subsp., Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929c: 488, illustrated, worker; junior synonym of semenovi, Dlussky, Soyunov & Zabelin, 1990: 163) from Turkestan unavailable name infumata (Acantholepis frauenfeldi turkmena var. turkmena nov. var., Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929c: 488, worker; referred to semenovi by Dlussky, Soyunov & Zabelin, 1990: 163) from Turkestan Kuznetsov-Ugamsky's (1929c) description of turkmena with variety infumata is on No images on Antweb (September 2015)	[ssp of semenovi in Bolton, 1995] Turkestan - turkmena
--	TL not stated; alitrunk minutely transversely striated and more or less flat; petiole with sharp spine like teeth (Acantholepis frauenfeldi Mayr var melas n., Emery, 1915h: 3, worker; Finzi, 1932: 25, queen; Finzi, 1939c: 158, male; stirps of frauenfeldi in Santschi, 1917d: 44; raised to species by Agosti & Collingwood, 1987a: 57, name only) Rhodes, Greece - images from http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0905146 Emery's (1915h) description is on	[sp in Bolton, 1995] Greece - Rhodes I. (also Turkestan?) - melas
	Pronotum near flat	.
18	Petiole with almost straight sides, quite deeply impressed summit but with angles obtuse and not sharply spinose	19
--	Petiole with curved sides and sharp spines	20
.	frauenfeldi-subgroup clypeus strongly carinate; eyes large, variably convex	.
19	TL 2.0-3.2 mm; scapes surpass occiput by about 0.5 of own length; petiole scale acutely dentate; propodeum with short teeth about 0.5 X basal space; clypeus with strong median carina; shiny but finely and distinctly reticulate; alitrunk black with no more than mesonotum red Forel (1894c) had - TL 2.5-2.8 mm; head oval-rectangular, slightly enlarged posteriorly; scapes surpass occiput by no more than half their own length; very shiny almost smooth; head and appendages brown to yellow, alitrunk yellowish-red, gaster brown-black (Hypoclinea Frauenfeldi n. sp., Mayr, 1855: 378, worker; Roger, 1859: 243, queen; Emery, 1878b: 46, male) from Dalmatia, Croatia Mayr's (1855) description is on . Thomé & Thomé (1975) described all life stages of what they regarded as frauenfeldi; this is at . However, they do not refer at all to Mayr's original description. André (1884: 179, on European ants) had - black brown, brilliant, almost glabrous, covered with superficial and very fine striations ("rides"); mandibles, antennae except the apex of the scape, alitrunk, articulations of the femora and tarsi reddish yellow; often the alitrunk has several brown patches; this colour pattern seems to match that given by Mayr and the type worker. The non-type shown in the thumbnail is from close to the type location and is collated from https://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0906081	[sp in Bolton, 1995] frauenfeldi
.
.
--	TL 2.5-2.7 mm; petiole scale narrowly rounded with shallow incision, less so than atlantis and narrower than nigra or bipartita; dark red of mesonotum approaching black, especially on montane examples (melanistic) (Acantholepis fraunenfeldi Mayr var. nigrescens nova, Karavaiev, 1912a: 15, illustrated, worker [unavailable]; Menozzi, 1927g: 380, queen; raised to species by Collingwood, 1985: 295; name misspelt as nigrans by Santschi,1917d: 43) - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0912400 Karavaiev's (1912a) description is on	[sp in Bolton, 1995] Algeria, Tunisia & Libya - nigrescens
--	Acantholepis frauenfeldi var. variabilis n. var., similar; TL 2.0-3.4 mm but very variable within one nest (Santschi, 1917d: 43, worker) from Tunisia - type images at http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0912387 appear identical to the frauenfeldi type form	[ssp of frauenfeldi in Bolton, 1995] Algeria, Tunisia & Libya - variabilis
	Petiole scale with arcuate sides	.
20	Petiole scale weakly subdentate	21
--	Petiole scale laterally with short sharp spines	22
21	TL 2.8-3.0 mm; colour as bipartita but head usually darker; sculpture less pronounced and shinier but less finely reticulate than caucasica; propodeum more robust than latter, higher and more sculptured; differs primarily by the more deeply excavated petiole - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0912380 (Acantholepis frauenfeldi v. barbara n. var., Santschi, 1917d: 44, illustrated,worker) from Tunisia	[ssp of frauenfeldi in Bolton, 1995] Tunisia - barbara
--	TL 2.5-3.0 mm; generally dark brown with black gaster (Acantholepis frauendfeldi Mayr var. azerbeidzhanica nov., Karavaiev, 1932: 250, illustrated, worker; synonymy Arakelian, 1994: 81) from Azerbaijan - no images on Antweb (September 2015) Karavaiev's (1932) description of azerbeidzhanica is on	[junior synonym of frauenfeldi in Bolton, 1995] Azerbaijan - azerbeidzhanica
	Petiole scale relatively short, sub-ovoid with sharp teeth (broad based)	.
22	TL 3.5-3.8 mm; head enlarged posteriorly, as wide as long and slightly flattened; pronotum also flattened and wide (as with pubescens but the pubescence is as in the type form frauenfeldi and also shiny); propodeum with fairly obtuse teeth; scale without spines, the summit feebly impressed; alitrunk red except pronotum, petiole basally red and brown apically, remainder of body brown black, appendages more or less rust (Forel, 1911d). Found alongside frauenfeldi. Petiole scale acutely dentate; propodeum with short teeth about 0.5 X basal space; alitrunk finely sculptured; bicoloured, head and gaster dark contrasting with red alitrunk (Collingwood, 1985); propodeum bluntly dentate, legs and antennae dark (Collingwood & Agosti, 1996 key) - these notes appear to differ significantly from the original Forel description (Acantholepis Frauenfeldi Mayr v. Dolabellae n. var., Forel, 1911d: 351, worker; raised to species by Collingwoood, 1985: 294) from Turkey Forel's (1911d) description is on	.
		[sp in Bolton, 1995] common Middle East species - dolabellae
--	TL 2.5-3.0 mm; very close to frauenfeldi but head somewhat longer and occipitum narrower; scape surpasses occiput by almost 2/3 own length; alitrunk longer and more slender; propodeal tubercle with short teeth; petiole scale oval, and bispinose but more narrowly than in bipartita body less shiny (more matt than syriaca. (Acantholpeis Frauenfeldi Mayr v. libanica n. v., Santschi, 1921a: 115, worker) from Syria - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0912383 Santschi's (1932) description of libanica is on	[ssp of frauenfeldi in Bolton, 1995] Lebanon & Syria - libanica

Translation of the Santschi (1917d) key -