Solenopsis occipitalis Santschi

Sharaf, Mostafa R., Taylor, Brian & Klingenberg, Christiana, 2009, Ants of the Genus SOLENOPSIS Westwood, 1840 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Egypt with a description of the worker castes of S. cooperi Donisthorpe, 1947, Zootaxa 2004, pp. 49-58 : 55

Solenopsis occipitalis Santschi

Solenopsis occipitalis Santschi 1911: 83 . Syntype workers, TUNISIA: Ain-Draham and Le Kef (Normand) (NHMB) [examined].

Worker. TL 1.30–1.71, HL 0.41–0.48, HW 0.38–0.41, SL 0.26–0.29, PL 0.12–0.17, PW 0.12–0.15, PPL 0.09–0.11, PPW 0.14–0.15, EL 0.04–0.05, AL 0.44–0.49, SI 68–70, CI 85–95 (4 measured).

Head rectangular, a little longer than broad. Occipital margin straight with rounded posterior corners. Clypeal carinae divergent anteriorly and running to the margin where they project as a pair of well developed teeth. Eyes with a single facet situated at the anterior third of the head sides. Mandibles armed with four teeth. Mesosoma quite short, promesonotum convex. Metanotal groove distinct. Propodeum short, high and clearly convex, with the basal face making a continuous arc with the declivity. Petiole narrow and little higher than long. A smooth and shining species. Pilosity pale, fine and abundant. Body colour yellow. Masticatory margin of the mandibles and the first gastral tergite dark brown; antennae and legs yellow.

Santschi described the eyes of this species as consisting of three facets, but only a single, oval and relatively large facet was seen in all type workers. In addition he mentioned that the masticatory margin of the mandibles, the occiput, petiole and the first gastral tergite were dark brown; with the antennae and legs yellow. We find this species is unicolorous yellow except for the masticatory margin of the mandibles and the first gastral tergite which are pale brown. It is recorded for the first time from Egypt. A single worker was collected from Mafareq (South Sinai) but unfortunately it was damaged after being photographed.

Material examined. 1 worker, Mafareq (South Sinai), 5.III.1998; 28.42: N; 33.19:E. (M. R. Sharaf).