''Lasius balearicus'' is an ant species from the genus ''

Lasius ''Lasius'' is a genus of formicine ants. The type species for this genus is the black garden ant, '' Lasius niger''. Other major members, which live in drier heathland, are the cornfield ant, '' L. neoniger'', and '' L. alienus''. Other species ...

''. It was described as a new species in 2014 and is the first known ant endemic to the Balearic Islands. It is endemic to the island of

Majorca Mallorca, or Majorca, is the largest of the Balearic Islands, which are part of Spain, and the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, seventh largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. The capital of the island, Palma, Majorca, Palma, i ...

and has only been recorded from seven mountains in the

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at elevations of . It inhabits rocky calcareous areas with scattered shrubby vegetation, especially '' Hypericum balearicum'' and '' Genista valdes-bermejoi''. Worker are about 4 mm long and have distinctive yellowish-brown, very hairy bodies. The scientists who described ''Lasius balearicus'' recommended listing the species as being

endangered An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching, inv ...

on the

IUCN Red List The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data Book, founded in 1964, is an inventory of the global conservation status and extinction risk of biological ...

. The total population size of ''Lasius balearicus'' is thought to be less than 2500 nests. The species has a very restricted elevation range and is threatened by climate change, with the most pessimistic predictions suggesting that it might go extinct by 2050 or 2080 because of climate change.

Taxonomy

It was discovered in 1982 by Cedric Alex Collingwood, an entomologist from the

Royal Entomological Society The Royal Entomological Society is a learned society devoted to the study of insects. It aims to disseminate information about insects and to improve communication between entomologists. The society was founded in 1833 as the Entomological S ...

and described as a new species in 2014 after a team from the Institut de Biologia Evolutiva in Barcelona collected the holotype in 2008. DNA evidence suggests that it diverged from its nearest relatives 1.51 million years ago. The last land bridge connecting Majorca and Iberia existed around 5 million years ago, suggesting that ''L. balearicus'' colonised the island after the land bridge had disappeared. Several other mainland ''

'' species are also found in the Balearic Islands, suggesting that dispersal across the Mediterranean is not an unusual event in this genus.

Description

The total length of a ''L. balearicus'' worker is about 4 mm. The body is distinctive yellowish-brown and very hairy.

Distribution and habitat

''L. balearicus'' is endemic to the island of

and has only been recorded from seven mountains in the

at elevations of . The species inhabits rocky calcareous areas with scattered shrubby vegetation, especially '' Hypericum balearicum'' and '' Genista valdes-bermejoi''. Specimens have been collected from their nests under rocks and from nearby vegetation, frequently attending to aphids. It is highly intolerant of forested habitats, not having been recorded from forested areas that are otherwise highly suitable for it. The species is the first known ant endemic to the Balearic Islands and the first ''

'' species endemic to the islands of the Mediterranean .

Status

The scientists who described ''Lasius balearicus'' recommended listing the species as being

on the

due to a multitude of threats facing it. The species has a very narrow niche inhabiting the highest elevation peaks on Majorca and is unlikely to be able to adapt to any changes in its habitat due to climate change. Loss in suitable habitat caused by climate change will likely lead to ''Lasius balearicus'' disappearing from its lowest elevational range, and the species will not be able to increase its distribution without an improbable dispersal to mainland Iberia or larger islands like Sardinia and Corsica. ''Lasius balearicus'' also has low genetic diversity and long generation times, rendering it unable to adapt to sudden changes in climatic conditions. In the most dramatic scenarios, the species is predicted to go extinct by 2050 or 2080. Other threats to the species include invasive goats, forest fires, and competition with ''Lasius grandis''. The total population size of ''Lasius balearicus'' is thought to be less than 2500 nests.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q18617018 Insects described in 2014 Fauna of Mallorca Endemic fauna of the Balearic Islands Hymenoptera of Europe balearicus