Tapinoma emeryanum Kuznetzov-Ugamsky 1927

Seifert, Bernhard, Kaufmann, Bernard & Fraysse, Lorenzo, 2024, A taxonomic revision of the Palaearctic species of the ant genus Tapinoma Mayr 1861 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 5435 (1), pp. 1-74 : 64

Tapinoma emeryanum Kuznetzov-Ugamsky 1927 [evaluation of images of types]

This taxon has been described from two localities in the W Tian Shan region . Investigated were the images of a type worker ( CASENT0911577 in www.antweb.org) labelled “West. Tian-Shan Ak-Tasch. 2400 m. Kuznezow”, “ Tapinoma emeryana Ku”, “Type”, “ Sammlung Dr. F. Santschi Kairouan ”, “ANTWEB CASENT0911577” and images of a syntype worker ( CASENT0917850 in www.antweb.org) labelled “..Tamerlanovka ..Bugunja...26/ VI -23”, “ Syntypus Tapinoma emeryanum Kuzn. ”, “N 460 3-0-0” and “ANTWEB CASENT0917850” .

Scatterplots of CL, CW, PoOc, SL, ML and dAN indicate synonymy of Tapinoma emeryanum with T. sinense and a wide distance from other species with shallow clypeal excision.

Material examined. Only images of three type specimens from Kazakhstan, Kyrgistan and Mongolia were available .

Geographic range. Tamerlanovka (42.59° N, 69.26° E, 290 m), Ak Tash (41.2° N, 70.6° E, 2400 m), Burgaltay (49.265° N, 104.743° E, 1020 m).

Diagnosis:—Worker ( Tab. 7, Figs. 12 , 13 ): All shape ratios given below are primary ratios without RAV and all data are given as arithmetic mean ± standard deviation (n-weighted). Rather small, CS 673 ± 40 µm. Head very short, CL/CW 1.057 ± 0.035. Postocular distance large, PoOc/CL 0.444 ± 0.006. Anteromedian clypeal excision very shallow and very broad, ExCly/CS 2.76 ± 0.45 %, ExClyW 10.16 ± 1.52 %. Few pubescence hairs and small setae protruding a few micron across margin of clypeal excision, nExCly 2.33 ± 0.47. Posterior margin of head very slightly excavated, ExOcc/CS 0.74 ± 0.20 %. Scape very short, SL/CS 0.903 ± 0.012. Second funiculus segment short, Fu2L/CS 11.12 ± 0.04 %, IFu2 1.225 ± 0.091. Minimum distance of the inner margins of antennal socket rings moderate, dAN/CS 0.314 ± 0.010. Eye medium-sized, EL/CS 0.285 ± 0.011. Mesosoma moderately wide and short, MW/CS 0.650 ± 0.033, ML/CS 1.191 ± 0.015. Metanotal depression rather shallow, MGr/CS 2.94 ± 0.82 %. Color of head, mesosoma and gaster dirty brown, mandibles femora, tibiae, metatarsae and tarsae paler.

Taxonomic comments. As a combination of very shallow clypeal excision, small CL/CW, small SL/CS, small ML/CS and large PoOc/CL, the species is not to confuse with any known species from Central and East Asia ( Tab. 7).

Biology. Sexuals were found in the Tian Shan 29 July 1922.

Figures

FIGURE 12. Tapinoma sinense, type, head in dorsal view, Burgaltai / Mongolia, 1898.09.05; from www.antweb.org, photo Z. Lieberman.

FIGURE 13. Tapinoma sinense (type of T. emeryanum syn. nov.), lateral view, Ak Tash / Uzbekistan, from www.antweb.org, photo Z. Lieberman.