Ant diversity on the largest Mediterranean islands: on the presence or absence of 28 species in Sicily (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) Author Schifani, Enrico Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability (SCVSA), University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11 / A, I- 43124 Parma, Italia. enrico.schifani@unipr.it Author Csősz, SÁndor MTA-ELTE-MTM, Ecology Research Group, PÁzmÁny Péter sétÁny 1 C, H- 1117 Budapest, Hungary. & Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, AlkotmÁny út 2 - 4, H- 2163 VÁcrÁtót, Hungary. Author Viviano, Roberto Via Michele Cipolla 106, I- 90123 Palermo, Italia. Author Alicata, Antonio Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (DBGES), University of Catania, Via Androne 81, I- 95124 Catania, Italia. text Natural History Sciences 2021 2021-05-28 8 1 55 70 http://dx.doi.org/10.4081/nhs.2021.532 journal article 10.4081/nhs.2021.532 2385-0922 12753989 6. Solenopsis orbula Emery 1875 In its present definition, this species is thought to have a circum-Mediterranean distribution (Schifani et al ., 2021b). The identity of SW European populations seems relatively certain, yet further investigation is needed to verify their relationships with those from other regions (Galkowski et al ., 2010; Schifani et al ., 2021b). De Stefani (1889; 1895) reported S. orbula from Santa Ninfa ( Trapani province ). However, Emery (1915) reexamined De Stefani’s specimens and described them as a new taxon, i.e. S. latro sicula Emery 1915 (later treated in this paper). Some recently collected material and the review of Terrasini Natural History Museum material allowed us to find S. orbula specimens from NE Sicily , letting us suppose its continuous distribution along the Tyrrhenian coast from Calabria north to Tuscany (Poldi, 1992; Schifani et al ., 2021b). According to the collecting data of winged gynes and males, nuptial flights occur in Sicily around July as they do in Tuscany and in Sardinia (Poldi, 1992; Schifani et al ., 2021b). Examined material ( Fig. 3 f-j) Messina province : Messina , 06.07.1949 , V. Ritiro legit, T. De Stefani Jr. collection at the Terrasini Natural History Museum. Messina, Contrada Scoppo , 12.07.2019 , V. Scandura legit, V. Gentile coll. Pendici di Monte Campotto , Gualtieri Sicaminò , 38.137572 , 15.335097 , 290 m asl , praire, 24.02.1994 , A. Alicata legit, AAC