Redescription of Tetramorium forte Forel, 1904 (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae), a western Mediterranean ant species

The western Mediterranean ant species Tetramorium forte Forel, 1904 is redescribed and a lectotype is designated. Taxonomic controversy surrounding the application of the name and its synonymy is thereby resolved: T. ruginode Stitz, 1917 ( with its junior synonym T. hispanicum Bondroit, 1918), T. maurum tingitanum Santschi, 1929 and T. maroccanum De Haro & Collingwood, 1994 are relegated to synonymy with T. forte. Lectotypes are designated for T. hispanicum, T. maurum tingitanum, T. maroccanum and T. silvestrianum Emery, 1924. The latter taxon, previously regarded as a junior synonym of T. forte, is synonymized with Myrmica specioides Bondroit, 1918. The distribution of T. forte is outlined, which encompasses southern France, the Iberian Peninsula and parts of the western Maghreb. Numerous new records are cited from throughout this range. Characters that distinguish T. forte from the similar species T. chefketi Forel, 1911, T. alternans Santschi, 1929 nov. stat. and T. moravicum Kratochvil, 1941, are presented. The latter species geographically overlaps with T. forte in southeastern France. Life history information available for T. forte is summarized.