Distribution Of Ants Research Articles

Monitoring of ant species surrounding the ports of South Korea.

The introduction and spread of invasive insects is accelerating worldwide owing to human activities, such as trade and transportation development; in particular, ports are hubs and routes for invasive insects, including ants. We surveyed ant populations in eight ports from 2021 to 2023 using pitfall traps. A total of 316,975 ants belonging to four subfamilies, 26 genera and 44 species were identified as Tetramoriumtsushimae, Lasiusniger, Brachyponerachinensis and Nylanderiaflavipes. The statistical analysis showed that the highest values by index were for the Incheon Port (0.25), the diversity index was for the Daesan Port (2.00), the evenness index was for the Daesan Port (0.71) and the richness index was for the Gamman Port (2.13). Non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis (NMDS) indicated that ants around the Ports of Gamman, Ulsan and Gwangyang had more dominant species than those around the other ports. Five species of alien ants, including Solenopsisinvicta, Solenopsisgeminata, Paratrechinalongicornis, Trichomyrmexdestructor and Nylanderiabourbonica were identified at Gamman Port, Paratrechinalongicornis at Ulsan Port and Gwangyang Port. This study provides comprehensive insights into the distribution and status of ants around ports, offering foundational data for the early detection of alien ants to reduce the risk of their settlement and spread and to respond proactively.

Observations on the Composition and Diversity of Ant Communities in Different Habitats in a Campus Ecosystem

Ants are more sensitive to ecosystem changes and their fast response to habitat alterations enable them as a useful tool for natural areas restoration efforts. A preliminary investigation was conducted to determine the diversity and distribution of ants from various habitats selected across the campus of Sree Narayana College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala State. A total of seventeen species belonging to four subfamilies, fourteen genera and 234 individuals were collected. The subfamily Myrmicinae is the most diverse followed by Formicinae, Ponerinae and Dolichoderinae. In the present study, Diversity Index, Dominance index and Evenness index of ant species were determined. Diversity varied from 0.49 to 0.82 indicating low diversity. Dominance index value ranged from 0.17 to 0.47 while Evenness index value from 0.63 to 0.92. The results showed low diversity and dominance of ant species in the campus area indicating the severity of human interference in the campus ecosystem.

Ant utilization of tree trunks in relation to environmental factors in a temperate forest

Forests exhibit complex three-dimensional structures, wherein abiotic factors vary both vertically and horizontally. The interaction between organisms and these factors drives the remarkable biodiversity within forests. Tree trunks serve as vital conduits for organisms moving vertically within the forest, facilitating biodiversity maintenance. Organisms moving vertically through tree trunks in forests face varying abiotic conditions, which may enhance their resilience to long-term environmental changes. Despite numerous studies comparing canopy and ground communities, the distribution of organisms across multiple strata remains poorly understood. Here, we explore the correlation between the horizontal distribution of ants in a forest and environmental factors (topography, tree size, tree species), with a specific focus on their presence on tree trunks. Visual observations were conducted to document ant species richness on tree trunks, supplemented by pitfall traps to quantify soil arthropod biomass, serving as an indicator of protein availability. The results revealed that ant species richness on tree trunks varied based on topography and tree species, showing a positive correlation with tree size. However, no significant relationship emerged between soil arthropod biomass and ant richness on tree trunks. Furthermore, no discernible trend suggesting that certain species were less likely to co-occur was observed; instead, a tendency for some species to co-occur was found. These findings highlight the horizontal heterogeneity in the distribution of ants with respect to topography, tree species, and tree size within the forest.

Pheidole praehistorica sp. nov., a new addition to spiny ants of the genus Pheidole Westwood, 1839 (Formicidae, Myrmicinae) from Oligo–Miocene Mexican amber

A fossil species of ant, Pheidole praehistorica sp. nov. (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae), is described and illustrated from the late Oligocene and early Miocene amber-bearing beds of Mexico. The type material comprises five amber inclusions from the Simojovel site in Chiapas. Pheidole praehistorica is recognized by having compound eyes positioned mesad on the head and protruded laterally from the head’s margins; pronotum long, forming a neck, with a pair of spines directed dorsolaterally; mesonotal groove deep forming a more or less U-shape concavity in lateral view; dorsal and declivitous faces of the propodeum well differentiated, comprising an approximately 90 degrees angle; propodeum with a pair of long spines; peduncle of the petiole long, as long as the spines of the propodeum. A phylogenetic analysis was also performed using Formica integroides, Camponotus chartifex, Dolichoderus spurius, Cephalotes minutus and Atta mexicana to assess the relationships of P. praehistorica with its fossil spiny congeners from Dominican amber and closely related extant species. The results show close morphological and phylogenetic affinities between the fossil ant P. praehistorica with P. primigenia and P. tethepa from Dominican amber, which may suggest that the shared spinescence character in Pheidole has a probable New World ancestry. The new record of P. praehistorica in the Oligo–Miocene strata of southernmost North America provides further evidence for the ancient distribution of spiny ants of the genus Pheidole in the New World.

Ant Diversity of Isolated Land Masses in Ashtamudi Lake Ramsar Site, Kollam, Kerala, India

Ashtamudi Lake is one of the three designated Ramsar sites of International importance in Kerala. This wetland has many isolated landmasses, few with human habitation and few without and thus supplements to its uniqueness. This study is an attempt to assess the diversity of ant species in these isolated landmasses and to understand if there is any difference in the distribution of ants in accordance with disturbances due to human habitation. The study was conducted for two years from 2021 to 2023. The study area comprises four isolated land masses - two without human habitation and two with human habitation. Ants were collected using different methods as described by Gadagkar et al. [1] and Agosti et al. [2] and preserved in 70% ethyl alcohol [2]. Overall 36 ant species were identified from isolated land masses without human habitation and 33 ant species were identified from isolated land masses with human habitation. Myrmicinae is the richest subfamily in both types of land masses and Crematogaster and Camponotus are the abundant genera in both kinds of land masses. Nineteen ant species were recorded in common from both kinds of isolated land masses. The sorensen Similarity index between the two kinds of land masses is 0.55. The difference in the species composition suggests that the two types of isolated land masses provide varied environment which may lead to its unique species diversity.

Leaf-cutting ants’ distribution in an elevation gradient in central Argentina

ABSTRACT Leaf-cutting ants are among the most prominent herbivores in neotropical forests and savannas, and Argentina represents the southern limit of their distribution. Despite their importance, few systematic studies analyze the presence and distribution of leaf-cutting ants in Argentina. Our aim was to describe, through an intensive field sampling, the leaf-cutting ant species present in the central Argentine mountains and analyze their distribution along the elevation gradient. We collected ants from 69 nests in 56 out of the 250 plots visited along the study elevation gradient (400–2700 m above sea level) in seven different habitats, from forests to rocky areas. We found six species. The most frequent were Acromyrmex lobicornis and Acromyrmex crassispinus, while Acromyrmex heyeri, Amoimyrmex silvestrii, Amoimyrmex striatus, and Amoimyrmex bruchi were far less frequent. The species distributed at the highest elevation was A. lobicornis (1223 to 2163 m a.s.l.), showing significant differences with the other species. We found leaf-cutting ants in all habitats, with a higher presence in grazing lawns, shrublands, and exotic forests. Our results indicate that leaf-cutting ants are present in most of the mountain range, as the area above their upper limit of distribution represents less than 5% of the total mountain area.

New genus and species of ponerine ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Mexican amber

ABSTRACT A new genus and species of ponerine ant from Mexican amber, Siinikaponera sulimata, is described and illustrated. The type material is an amber inclusion from the Montecristo mine in Chiapas, Mexico, which dates back to the Oligo-Miocene period. Siinikaponera sulimata gen. et sp. nov. shares traits with other ants in the subfamily Ponerinae, including the outer edges of the frontal lobes forming simple short semicircles or blunt triangles, presence of promesonotal suture, meso- and metatibia with 0–2 spurs, antenna with 12 segments, constriction between the first and second gastral tergite well impressed, presence of sting, complete wing venation, and complete cell patterns. Siinikaponera sulimata gen. et sp. nov. also has unique features that separate it from other ponerine ants, such as fore, middle and hind tibiae with two spurs each, anterior margin of clypeus with two anteriorly projecting lobes, mandible dentition pattern, posterior peduncle of petiole long, and presence of relatively long coxae. A distinctive feature of Siinikaponera sulimata gen. et sp. nov. is the presence of two projecting lobes on the anterior clypeal margin, a plesiomorphic character shared with the genus Dinoponera. Accordingly, this new fossil record offers valuable insights into the worldwide diversity and distribution of ponerine ants.

Structure-based epitope prediction and assessment of cross-reactivity of Myrmecia pilosula venom-specific IgE and recombinant Sol g proteins (Solenopsis geminata)

The global distribution of tropical fire ants (Solenopsis geminata) raises concerns about anaphylaxis and serious medical issues in numerous countries. This investigation focused on the cross-reactivity of allergen-specific IgE antibodies between S. geminata and Myrmecia pilosula (Jack Jumper ant) venom proteins due to the potential emergence of cross-reactive allergies in the future. Antibody epitope analysis unveiled one predominant conformational epitope on Sol g 1.1 (PI score of 0.989), followed by Sol g 2.2, Sol g 4.1, and Sol g 3.1. Additionally, Pilosulin 1 showed high allergenic potential (PI score of 0.94), with Pilosulin 5a (PI score of 0.797) leading in B-cell epitopes. The sequence analysis indicated that Sol g 2.2 and Sol g 4.1 pose a high risk of cross-reactivity with Pilosulins 4.1a and 5a. Furthermore, the cross-reactivity of recombinant Sol g proteins with M. pilosula-specific IgE antibodies from 41 patients revealed high cross-reactivity for r-Sol g 3.1 (58.53%) and r-Sol g 4.1 (43.90%), followed by r-Sol g 2.2 (26.82%), and r-Sol g 1.1 (9.75%). Therefore, this study demonstrates cross-reactivity (85.36%) between S. geminata and M. pilosula, highlighting the allergenic risk. Understanding these reactions is vital for the prevention of severe allergic reactions, especially in individuals with pre-existing Jumper Jack ant allergy, informing future management strategies.

Automated detection of an insect‐induced keystone vegetation phenotype using airborne LiDAR

Abstract Ecologists, foresters and conservation practitioners need ‘biodiversity scanners’ to effectively inventory biodiversity, audit conservation progress and track changes in ecosystem function. Quantifying biological diversity using remote sensing methods remains challenging, especially for small invertebrates. However, insect aggregations can drastically alter landscapes and vegetation, and these ‘extended phenotypes’ could serve as environmental landmarks of insect presence in remotely sensed data. To test the feasibility of this approach, we studied symbiotic ants that alter the canopy shape of whistling thorn acacias (Acacia [syn. Vachellia] drepanolobium), a keystone tree species of the black cotton soils of east African savannas. We demonstrate a protocol for using light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data to collect, prepare (including a customizable tree‐segmentation algorithm) and apply a convolutional neural network‐based classification for the detection of ant‐inhabited acacia tree phenotypic variations. Applying this protocol enabled us to effectively detect intra‐specific tree phenotypic variation induced by insects. Surveying ant occupancy across 16 ha and 9680 acacia trees took 1000 work hours, whereas surveyed patterns of ant distribution were replicated by our trained classifier using only an hour‐long airborne LiDAR collection time. We suggest that large‐scale surveys of insect occupancy (including insect‐vectored disease) can be automated through a combination of airborne LiDAR and machine learning.

Exploring vegetation's role in enhancing ant-based coffee berry borer control in an agroforestry system

Abstract. Haryadi NT, Kurnianto AS, Dewi N, Sukma GAK, Devarigata ES, Suyitno YMR, Magvira NL, Firdaus AS. 2024. Exploring vegetation's role in enhancing ant-based coffee berry borer control in an agroforestry system. Biodiversitas 25: 491-501. The coffee industry faces a serious threat from coffee berry borer pests, causing significant economic losses. This research aims to explore the potential of using ants as a biological control method in coffee plantations, as well as the influence of shade on ant communities. The research was conducted in the Sumberjambe and Silo Sub-districts using purposive sampling methods to collect ant specimens with the beating sheet method. Specimens were identified in the laboratory, and data were analyzed using the Shannon-Wiener diversity index, the Evenness index, and the Margalef species richness index. The results showed 17 ant genera in Sumberjambe and 13 in Silo, with 7 of them acting as predators. The analysis indicated low diversity (H’=0.88-1.56) with the dominance of the Dolichoderus and Lasius genera at both locations. A high evenness index in Sumberjambe (E=0.75) indicated a uniform distribution, whereas a moderate value in Silo indicated a less uniform ant distribution (E=0.45). Species richness at both locations was considered low (Dmg=0.66-0.91). Comparative tests between the two locations did not show a significant difference in the diversity of ants that could potentially act as predators. This study also includes an analysis of tree species vegetation at the agroforestry sites, with Albizia chinensis trees showing the highest importance value in Silo (INP=209.37). This indicates the significant role of this plant in the ant agroforestry community. The Tapinoma genus (Pearson corr.=0.996, p-value=0.0467) and Solenopsis genus (Pearson corr.=0.993, p-value=0.0432) showed a very strong positive correlation with Albizia plants. However, some other combinations showed weaker correlations or approached zero, indicating that the number of vegetation species did not greatly influence their presence or abundance. This research provides insight into the diversity of ants, their potential role as predators of the coffee berry borer, and the relationship between ants and vegetation on two coffee-based agroforestry fields in Jember District, Indonesia.

Atta cephalotes (Hymenoptera: Myrmicinae) is colonizing urban areas in Cali, Colombia

Numerous studies have examined the effect of invasive species on biodiversity in urban environments, however, few of them have investigated the role of native species while turning into invasive pests. In Colombia, Atta cephalotes, a native leaf-cutting ant (LCA), has responded successfully to the conversion of natural ecosystems to agricultural-rural environments and, most recently, to residential and urban development. In this study, we illustrate the incidence and distribution of this native ant species in an environment where animal life must face urban disturbs in the physical environment, resource availability, and ecosystem processes associated with human urbanization in Cali, the third most important city in Colombia. For this, A. cephalotes nests were georeferenced in public green areas located in 12 communes across the city of Cali, southern Colombia. Vegetation and soil cover, urban settings, foraging trails and plants foraged by the ants were recorded. A. cephalotes nests were present in all green areas and, even in human dwellings; the ants harvested both native and introduced plant species. Despite being well adapted to strongly modified urban environments, this ant species appears to be dependent on human-subsidized resources. Given the wide distribution of leaf-cutting ants in Latin America, it is plausible to expect that similar processes are underway in other countries where these ants are found. Hence, this study also proposes to alert the academic and social communities to direct future research towards evaluating both the responses and impacts of these ants in relation to changes in the urban landscape.

Impact of Long-Term Floods on Spatial Dynamics of Myrmica scabrinodis, a Host Ant of a Highly Threatened Scarce Large Blue (Phengaris teleius).

Extensively used wet meadows with high species diversity are under threat in Europe by anthropogenic pressure. The increasing frequency of prolonged flooding is emerging as an additional threat to this fragile environment. In our study, we investigated how prolonged flooding affects the spatial distribution and temporal dynamics (through mortality and recolonization process) of the host ant species Myrmica scabrinodis, which is essential for the survival of the endangered Scarce large blue (Phengaris teleius). The study was conducted in the flood-prone Ljubljansko barje plain situated on the southern edge of the species' global range. Prolonged flooding in the study area, possibly affecting the past and current distribution of the host ant M. scabrinodis, was recorded in 2010, 2013, and 2017. In 2020, we set 160 ant traps to estimate the distribution of host ants in a system of meadows covering the entire gradient of flood history. Results indicate that M. scabrinodis survives the flooding for up to three days, starting to disappear if flooding persists longer. After the flooding recedes, ants gradually recolonize empty habitats from the surrounding upland refugia. Our spatial analyses predict that the average recolonization speed was about 29 m per year and that in a year, ants compensate for the mortality effects of 1.8 days of flooding by recolonization in a year. These results show that flooding should be considered as an additional (in some areas, a major) threat to the endangered P. teleius through its deleterious effects on the host ant species.

They arrived and don’t stop coming: an update on the distribution of exotic ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in continental Ecuador

We present an updated list of introduced ants to continental Ecuador, and compile records of occurrence, as well as map the distribution of 15 exotic species. We analyzed specimens in entomological collections and data from AntWeb, GBIF and iNaturalist. Among these, we add two new records for the country: Cardiocondyla mauritanica Forel, 1980 and Pheidole megacephala (Fabricius, 1793). The former is also the first record for South America, while the finding of the latter shows how little we know about introduced tramp ants. In addition, we add site records for nine species: Cardiocondyla emeryi Forel, 1881, Cardiocondyla minutior Forel, 1899, Cardiocon­dyla wroughtonii (Forel, 1890), Linepithema humile (Mayr, 1868), Monomorium floricola (Jerdon, 1851), Monomo­rium pharaonis (Linnaeus, 1758), Paratrechina longicornis (Latreille, 1802), Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius, 1793), and Tetramorium bicarinatum (Nylander, 1846). Based on our previous fieldwork observations, it appears that our understanding of exotic species richness is still in its early stages.

Modeling the movement of Oecophylla smaragdina on short-length scales in an unfamiliar environment

The movement of individual weaver ants, of Oecophylla smaragdina, was previously tracked within an unfamiliar arena. We develop an empirical model, based on Brownian motion with a linear drag and constant driving force, to explain the observed distribution of ants over position and velocity. Parameters are fixed according to the isotropic, homogeneous distribution observed near the middle of the arena. Then, with no adjustable parameters, the model accounts for all features of the measured population distribution. The tendency of ants to remain near arena edges is largely explained as a statistical property of bounded stochastic motion though evidence for active wall-following behavior appears in individual ant trajectories. Members of this ant species are capable of impressive feats of collective action and long-range navigation. But we argue that they use a simplistic algorithm, captured semi-quantitatively by the model provided, to navigate within the confined region.

Competition and habitat availability interact to structure arboreal ant communities across scales of ecological organization.

Understanding how resource limitation and biotic interactions interact across spatial scales is fundamental to explaining the structure of ecological communities. However, empirical studies addressing this issue are often hindered by logistical constraints, especially at local scales. Here, we use a highly tractable arboreal ant study system to explore the interactive effects of resource availability and competition on community structure across three local scales: an individual tree, the nest network created by each colony and the individual ant nest. On individual trees, the ant assemblages are primarily shaped by availability of dead wood, a critical nesting resource. The nest networks within a tree are constrained by the availability of nesting resources but also influenced by the co-occurring species. Within individual nests, the distribution of adult ants is only affected by distance to interspecific competitors. These findings demonstrate that resource limitation exerts the strongest effects on diversity at higher levels of local ecological organization, transitioning to a stronger effect of species interactions at finer scales. Collectively, these results highlight that the process exerting the strongest influence on community structure is highly dependent on the scale at which we examine the community, with shifts occurring even across fine-grained local scales.

Checklist and distribution of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) within an ecologi-cally diverse southern African ecoregion: Eswatini

Documentation of species occurrences through compilation of checklists is an important component of biodiversity conservation and planning, which are limited in sub-Saharan Africa. As an ecologically diverse country, ant checklist compilation was carried out in Eswatini in order to determine ant diversity and distribution within the country’s major ecological terrestrial biomes. Collections by various sources over the years have resulted in the determination of 148 species from 41 genera in 6 subfamilies, with Myrmicinae being the dominant one with 74 species. Within the terrestrial biomes, the savanna had 77% of the species recorded while grassland and forest biomes had 52.7% and 25% of the species, respectively. Three species, Anoplolepis custodiens (Smith, 1858), Polyrhachis schistacea (Gerstäcker, 1859) and Pheidole megacephala (Fabricius, 1793) were the most widely distributed in the country. There were also the first records of Myrmicaria faurei Arnold, 1947 and Terataner transvaalensis Arnold, 1952 outside of their known ranges in Mpumalanga, South Africa, as well as Camponotus liogaster Santschi, 1932 outside of its known range in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The forty-eight species identified only to genus level illustrates the taxonomic gap within entomology. This checklist confirms the importance of such documentation of species at both local and regional scale, contributing to knowledge on the region’s biodiversity and its distribution.

Alien ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) on a quest to conquer Greece: a review including an updated species checklist and guidance for future research

Biological invasions represent one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss with adverse impacts on human societies, economies and public health. More than 500 ant species have been transported outside their native range with the help of humans, while the majority of them have managed to establish viable populations in the wild. Nevertheless, data from the Mediterranean region suggest that most alien ants occupy anthropogenic habitats with little spread in semi-natural and natural habitats. Research on biological invasions of ants in Greece had previously identified a total of 15 alien ant species. In this article, an extensive literature investigation and material examination provide a revised checklist of the alien myrmecofauna of Greece. Although the number of alien ant species remains the same, the checklist’s composition is largely altered to provide an up-to-date overview of the country’s alien myrmecofauna in order to enhance management decisions and future research. The presence and distribution of alien ants within Greek administrative divisions, NATURA 2000 sites and Corine Land Cover types are analysed and presented. In particular, the species richness of alien ants seems to be highest in the Aegean Archipelago (Crete and Southern Aegean Islands) probably due to uneven collecting efforts and increased climatic suitability. Alien ant species are mostly associated with anthropogenic habitats including urban and agricultural areas, although a significant percentage has managed to spread into forest and semi-natural areas, including protected NATURA 2000 sites. Future research directions enhancing the monitoring of alien ants and their impacts are indicated to safeguard native ant biodiversity and conservation efforts of rare and endemic taxa.

Generic and species richness of ant fauna in different provinces of Nepal (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Nepal, a part of the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot, has a high diversity of habitat and species. Its myrmecofaunal diversity and distribution, however, is little understood. Here, I summarize the provincial distribution of all named species of ants for the seven provinces of Nepal through a literature review and examination of materials available at museum and private collections. The distribution of Nepalese ants in each province reveals that Bagmati province has the highest known generic and species richness with 37 genera and 93 species, followed by Gandaki (32, 68), Province 1 (27, 55), Sudurpashchim (15, 15), Lumbini (12, 13), Madhesh (9, 11), and Karnali (5, 5). The four of the seven provinces, Sudurpashchim, Karnali, Lumbini, and Madhesh have been significantly under sampled in the country in terms of documented species richness. Although the figures cannot accurately represent the real species richness of each province, I hope that by highlighting the research gaps, it will encourage further investigation.

Review of Distribution Modeling in Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Biogeographic Studies

The state of the art of Formicidae biogeographic studies using distribution modeling tools was reviewed. We aimed to evaluate how and for what purpose such tools were used in ant studies, as well as detecting modeling methods, algorithms, and variables selected for these studies. We analyzed papers published from 2001 to 2021 and focused on predicting invasion risks, conservation, and potential distribution of species. We also considered the mechanistic and correlative approaches, types of algorithms, and environmental variables. We observed that modeling is first used to predict invasion risks before conservation. The correlative approach was the most used, although it does not consider biotic or physiological aspects as the mechanistic approach does. The most used algorithm was Maxent, combining data set of occurrences with climatic variables. Nine studies used combinations of algorithms with consensual models. Research using modeling has been conducted more and more. However, it remains still incipient, mainly regarding conservation, as the current distribution of most of the Formicidae species is not well known. Although not frequently used in ant studies, distribution modeling represents an important approach for research in biogeography, ecology, and related areas. Certain perspectives could be useful, for example, for studying climatic changes, since possible variations in ant distributions, if anticipated, could suggest or guide further investigations or decision-making in public policies.

Geographic and climatic constraints on bioregionalization of European ants

AbstractAimBiogeographical regionalization is scant for most insect groups due to shortfalls in distribution and phylogenetic information, namely the Wallacean and Darwinian shortfalls respectively. Here, we focused on the European ants and compared new techniques to classical analyses based on regional lists and taxonomic methods. We asked the following: (1) Can grid‐based regionalizations using novel distribution data improve biogeographical transitions? and (2) Can phylogenetic approaches reveal new insights regarding ant evolutionary history?LocationEurope and Anatolia.TaxonAnts (Formicidae).MethodsFirst, we developed a refined database integrating the occurrences of 747 ant species across 207 regions of Europe and Anatolia, based on newly expert‐validated records derived from the existing Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics database. Using range estimates for these species derived from polygons and species distribution modelling, we produced species assemblages in 50 × 50 km grid cells. We calculated taxonomic and phylogenetic turnover of ant assemblages, then performed a hierarchical clustering procedure to delineate biogeographical structure.ResultsAt both the regional list and grid assemblage levels, the Mediterranean has higher turnover and more biogeographical regions than northern Europe, both taxonomically and phylogenetically. Delineations based on grid assemblages detected more detailed biogeographical transitions, while those based on regional lists showed stronger insularity in biogeographical structure. The phylogenetic regionalization suggested a very similar spatial structure but varied affinities between assemblages in comparison to the taxonomic approach.Main ConclusionsHere, we integrated expert‐validated regional lists, species distribution modelling and a recent phylogeny to tackle Wallacean and Darwinian shortfalls for an important insect group by developing a next‐generation map of biogeographical regionalization for European ants. The results of this study suggest strong constraints from geographical barriers and potential effects of climatic history on ant distributions and evolutionary history, and also provide baseline spatial information for future investigations of regional insect distributions.