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Researchers Identify Two New Ant Species in Southern Spain

The discoveries double Spain’s known Oxyopomyrmex species to four.

Las dos especies ahora descubiertas
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Overview

  • Investigator Joaquín L. Reyes López analysed ant nests in southern Iberia using scanning electron microscopy to reveal two previously undescribed species in Spain.
  • One species features a head wider than its length, pronounced body striations and a light brown color, observed in the provinces of Jaén and Granada.
  • The other species is smaller with subtler striations and short abdominal spines, detected in Huelva province and Doñana National Park.
  • The study, published in the journal Insects, enhances understanding of ant diversity and geographic distribution in Spain’s arid and semi-arid regions.
  • Reyes López notes that continued surveys across the Iberian Peninsula may uncover additional new ant species.