The ants of Micronesia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

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The ants of Micronesia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The ant fauna of Micronesia as determined from museum specimens and from collections mainly on Pohnpei Island is presented here. Around 111 species are found in the region, many of which appear to be island endemics. Palau, Pohnpei, and the Marianas rank the highest in species diversity, with Pohnpei and Palau being especially
rich in apparent endemics. The Bonin Islands and Kiribati are poorly sampled, and our understanding of the ant fauna in the whole of Micronesia could benefit greatly from additional collections. Many new and interesting species are known from single collections or single specimens, even on Pohnpei, which is perhaps now the most thoroughly
sampled large island in the region. The Marshall Islands contain mostly pan-Pacific and pantropical tramp species, but there do exist collections from the Marshalls (such as a series of Pheidole minors) that can only be clarified through further fieldwork. All data on specimens examined, collected, and reported, as well as a key to their identification and maps of their distributions are provided.