Uncovering species diversity in the subgenus Lasius s. str. (Ruzsky, 1913): A morphological and molecular study from Bosnia and Herzegovina
Background and purpose: Ants are a dominant terrestrial insect group and rank among the most abundant and diverse animals on land, playing significant ecological and economic roles. Due to their global diversity and the high morphological similarity among closely related species, accurate identification of ants can be difficult. The aim of this study was to assess the species status within one of the most important ant groups – Lasius genus, subgenus Lasius s. str. – in Bosnia and Herzegovina, using a combination of morphological and molecular approaches. Materials and methods: Forty-two individuals were collected from four localities and identified using appropriate morphological keys. DNA barcoding was performed to complement morphological identification, and sequences were deposited in GenBank. A Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic tree was constructed using MEGA11, incorporating both the sequences from this study and selected sequences from the BOLD database. Results: We identified three species - Lasius niger, L. platythorax and L. emarginatus, by applying both approaches. Specific dark-brown mesosoma and a new haplotype were recorded for L. emarginatus. Conclusions: The observed morphometric differences and a discovery of a new Lasius emarginatus haplotype suggest that the diversity of species within the subgenus in Bosnia and Herzegovina is greater than previously recognized. Further research is warranted to explore the regional diversity and ecological roles of Lasius species.