Technomyrmex sa01

Sharaf, Mostafa R., Dhafer, Hathal M. Al & Aldawood, Abdulrahman S., 2018, Review of the ant genus Technomyrmex Mayr, 1872 in the Arabian Peninsula (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), ZooKeys 780, pp. 35-59 : 35-36

Material of unknown male of Technomyrmex sa01 Figure 9A, B, C, D

Measurements.

TL 3.25-3.75; HL 0.55-0.65; HW 0.50-0.67; SL 0.22-0.32; WL 1.25-1.40. Indices: SI 35-58; CI 81-112; EI 37-52 (n = 9).

Description.

Head. Head distinctly broader than long; mandible triangular, basal and masticatory margins with serrate denticles; apical tooth on masticatory margin longer than subapical one; scapes when laid back from their insertions just reach posterior margin of eyes; scape excluding its basal condyle shorter than length of funicular segments 1+2; first and second funicular segments cylindrical and straight; first funicular segment approximately one-third length of second; second and third funicular segments approximately twice as long as broad; third and fourth funicular segments straight; inner margin of eye entire, flat; anterior clypeal margin broad, convex, without a central notch or concavity of any type with five yellow setae, approximately as long as the maximum diameter of the scape; median portion of clypeus with a raised area which has curved anterior and posterior margins; anterior tentorial pit nearer antennal socket than mandibular insertion; anterolateral hypostoma reduced to a thin sclerite; medial hypostoma entire; palp formula 6, 4; third maxillary palp segment subequal in length to segment 4; third and fourth maxillary palp segments subequal; fifth approximately 2/3 × length of sixth. Mesosoma. Axillae medially compressed, anterior and posterior margins not parallel; anterior axillar suture concave; declivitous and dorsal faces of propodeum convex; dorsal face shorter than the declivitous face; propodeal angle indistinct. Petiole. Petiolar node strongly inclined anteriorly, its anterior margin much shorter than posterior margin in lateral view, not much expanded laterally; attachment to gaster narrow. Genitalia. Pygostyles present; apicoventral portion of basimere without projection. Pilosity. Whole body covered with pale appressed pubescence; mandibles with long yellow hairs. Sculpture. Body more or less shining with fine superficial microreticulation. Colour. Dull dark brown or black-brown.

Material examined.

KSA, Asir Province: Abha, Raydah Protectorate, 18.201583°N, 42.408933°E, 2600 m, 20.x.2014, (Al Dhafer et al.) (1 m); Saudi Arabia, Abha, Raydah Protectorate, 18.198067°N, 42.40725°E, 2600 m, 20.x.2014, (Al Dhafer et al.) (2 m); Saudi Arabia, Abha, Raydah Protectorate, 18.193633°N, 42.390333°E, 2600 m, 20.x.2014, (Al Dhafer et al.) (3 m); Abha, Raydah Protectorate, 18.198067°N, 42.40725°E, 2387 m, 20.x.2014, (Al Dhafer et al.) (1 m); Abha, Raydah Protectorate, 18.198067°N, 42.40725°E, 2387 m, 26.iv.2014, (Al Dhafer et al.) (1 m, CASENT0746638, CASC). Al Baha Province: Al Baha, Shada Al Ala, 19.8627°N, 41.301483°E, 1225 m, 3.vi.2014, (Al Dhafer et al.) (1 m); Saudi Arabia, Al Baha, Shada Al Ala, 19.842917°N, 41.311517°E, 1666 m, 3.vi.2014, (Al Dhafer et al.) (1 m); Saudi Arabia, Al Baha, Shada Al Ala, 19.842917°N, 41.311517°E, 1666 m, 27. i.2015, (Al Dhafer et al.) (1 m); all previous material was collected by e light trap and is deposited in KSMA.

Remarks.

Although there is no direct association between the male specimens studied here and the worker castes of T. setosus , it is highly likely that these male specimens are T. setosus . This supposition is supported by the relatively broad distribution of T. setosus in the southwestern mountains of the Arabian Peninsula and also with the scarcity and limited distribution of the closely related species, T. briani . This association may be confirmed with the use of the molecular techniques in the future.