Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius, 1793)

Cedric A. Collingwood, Donat Agosti, Mostafa R. Sharaf & Antonius van Harten, 2011, Order Hymenoptera, family Formicidae, Arthropod fauna of the UAE 4, pp. 1-70 : 11-12

Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius, 1793) Plates 27–29 , 36 , 54

Specimens examined: Al-Ain, 12.iii.2005, CAC. Al-Ajban, 9.xi–7.12.2005, LT & MT, AvH. Sharjah Desert Park, 5–6.x.2004, AvH.

Distribution: Another invasive species with a world-wide distribution ( Wetterer, 2009a). This species feeds upon many household foods, it seems to show a preference for sweets, having been observed feeding on sugar, cakes, and syrups ( Smith, 1965). Outdoors the workers are scavengers, consume dead insects and tend sap-sucking insects, collecting honeydew. Recorded from the UAE (al-Ain) by Collingwood, Tigar & Agosti (1997). Also known from Yemen.

Figures

Plates 27–29.Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius).(Photographs by A.Nobile, © www.antweb.org)

Plates 35–37: 35: Pachycondyla sennaarensis (Mayr); 36: Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius); 37: Cardiocondyla emeryi Forel.(Photographs © Fauna of Arabia)

Plates 53–58. Heads in dorsal view. 53: Pachycondyla sennaarensis (Mayr); 54: Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius); 55:Cardiocondyla emeryi Forel; 56:Monomorium baushare Collingwood & Agosti.; 57: Monomorium destructor (Jerdon); 58: Pheidole teneriffana Forel.(Photographs © Fauna of Arabia)