Technomyrmex montaseri, Sharaf, Mostafa R., Collingwood, Cedric A. & Aldawood, Abdulrahman S., 2011

Sharaf, Mostafa R., Collingwood, Cedric A. & Aldawood, Abdulrahman S., 2011, Technomyrmex montaseri sp. n., a new ant species of the T. gibbosus-group from Oman (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) with a key to the Technomyrmex species of the Arabian Peninsula, ZooKeys 108, pp. 11-19 : 13-14

Technomyrmex montaseri sp. n. Figs 1-3

Holotype worker.

Oman, Bani Sur, 7.iii.1984 (W. Büttiker); the entomological Collection, the World Museum Liverpool (WML), Liverpool, U.K. deposited by Mr Guy T. Knight)

Paratypes.

7 workers with same data as holotype in the World Museum, Liverpool (WML) (deposited by the senior author), 1 worker with same data as holotype, The Natural History Museum, London (BMNH) (deposited by B. Bolton) and 1 worker, Oman Eastern sand project (Leg. Collingwood) at WML.

Holotype worker.

Measurements: TL: 2.90; HL: 0.60; HW: 0.57; SL: 0.62; PW: 0.37; WL: 0.80; EL: 0.15; Indices: CI: 95; SI: 109; OI: 26; EPI: 80; DTI: 122

Paratype worker.

Measurements: TL: 2.80; HL: 0.62; HW: 0.60; SL: 0.58; PW: 0.38; WL:0.65; EL: 0.15; Indices: CI: 97; SI: 97; OI: 25; EPI: 125; DTI: 126

Other workers, as Technomyrmex species B, measurements given by Collingwood (1985) are as follows: TL:2.20, HL:0.52; HW:0.52; SL:0.62; EL: 0.16; SI:119

Distribution.

Saudi Arabia, Al Farrash, 15.x.1982, 21° 7' 45 N, 40° 36' 20 E; collector W. Büttiker ( Collingwood 1985); Oman, Bani Sur (as the holotype and paratype) and Eastern Sands, iii.1986, all W. Büttiker; also, Yemen, Al-Hajjarah, 14.iii.1992, A van Harten ( Collingwood and Agosti 1996).

Diagnosis.

This new species is characterized by the combination of the following characters: Head, mesosoma and all gastral tergites without setae. Anterior clypeal margin with a shallow but distinct median concavity. In full-face view the occipital margin and the sides of the head are convex.

Worker description.

Dorsum of head behind clypeus entirely lacks setae. Anterior clypeal margin with a shallow but distinct median concavity. In full-face view the posterior margin of the head and the sides clearly convex. Eyes of moderate size, located in front of the midlength and their outer margins just failing to break the outline of the sides. Sculpture of head a very weak, superficial and effaced microreticulum. Dorsum of mesosoma and propodeal declivity entirely lack setae. With mesosoma in profile the mesonotal dorsal outline consists of an anterior section that is short and flat to feebly convex; posterior to this the surface curves broadly and evenly into a larger, more steeply sloped posterior section that descends to the narrow mesonotal groove. Propodeum in profile with a short convex dorsal surface that rounds evenly into the declivity, the two surfaces not separating by an angle. Sculpture reduced and superficial on dorsal mesosoma and all gastral tergites; the latter without pubescence. All gastral tergites, scapes and tibiae without setae. Colour uniform yellow.

Derivatio nominis.

A patronymic name ( Technomyrmex montaseri ) is proposed in honor of Mosrafa Sharaf's friend the famous Egyptian journalist Mr. Salah Montaser (Al-Ahram News paper).