Trichomyrmex perplexus ( Radchenko, 1997 )

Mostafa R. Sharaf, Shehzad Salman, Hathal M. Al Dhafer, Shahid A. Akbar, Mahmoud S. Abdel-Dayem & Abdulrahman S. Aldawood, 2016, Taxonomy and distribution of the genus Trichomyrmex Mayr, 1865 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Arabian Peninsula, with the description of two new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 246, pp. 1-36 : 24-26

Trichomyrmex perplexus ( Radchenko, 1997)

Fig. 11 A–C

Monomorium perplexus Radchenko, 1997: 213 , figs 1–11. (w, q, m.) Armenia. Palearctic. [not examined].

Trichomyrmex perplexus – Ward, Brady, Fisher & Schultz, 2015: 16.

Material examined

GREECE: 3 w, Dodecanese, Rhodes Kolymbia, 36.23˚ N, 28.15˚ E, alt. 157 m, 3 May 2015, L. Borowiec leg. (ROD-220); 4 w, Aegean Is., Lesbos Anaxos Skoutarou, 39.31˚ N, 26.14˚ E, alt. 28 m, 7 Jun. 2015, L. Borowiec leg. (LES-239) (all material in KSMA).

Previous records

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: w, Hatta-Khor Kalba, 25.07˚ N, 56.35˚ E, 12 Feb. 2005, C.A. Collingwood leg.

Description

MEASUREMENTS. Worker: HL 0.69–1.37; HW 0.62–1.38; EL 0.15; SL 0.52–0.87; ML 0.83–1.37 ( Radchenko 1997). Large worker: TL 3.50–4.89; HL 1.03–1.31; HW 1.01–1.43; SL 0.70–0.91; EL 0.15–0.16; ML 1.05–1.40; PW 0.55–0.66; PTL 0.22–0.33; PTW 0.15–0.21; PPL 0.18–0.23; PPW 0.20–0.23; CI 107–109; EI 11–14; SI 64 (CASENT0281551, CASENT0914153). Small worker: TL 2.15; HL 0.55; HW 0.54; SL 0.42; EL 0.11; ML 0.68; PW 0.31; PTL 0.13; PTW 0.10; PPL 0.13; PPW 0.13; CI 98; EI 20; SI 78 (CASENT0281552).

HEAD. Slightly longer than broad (CI 98–109) with concave posterior margin and convex sides; anterior clypeal margin shallowly concave; scapes short, when laid back from their insertions failing to reach posterior margin of head.

MESOSOMA. Convex in profile; promesonotal outline flat; metanotal groove impressed; propodeum angular in profile or with short blunt rounded denticle; propodeal dorsum as long as declivity in profile; propodeal declivity with feeble longitudinal impression.

PETIOLE. Peduncle long; petiolar node low, triangular and rounded in profile.

POSTPETIOLE. Node low and rounded in profile.

PILOSITY. Underside of head with numerous straight short hairs not forming a psammophore; cephalic surface with abundant subdecumbent pubescence; posterior margin of head with numerous long curved hairs; mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole with many projecting hairs, varying in length; gastral pilosity numerous and sparse.

SCULPTURE. Head smooth and shining, with sparse fine punctures; mandibles longitudinally rugulose; promesonotum and mesonotum smooth and shining, rest of mesosoma densely punctulate-reticulate.

COLOUR. Head, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole orange red to reddish brown, gaster dark brown, legs brownish or reddish yellow.

Differential diagnosis

Separation is given under T. abyssinicus . In addition, T. perplexus seems similar to a species described under Monomorium , M. dentigerum (Roger, 1862) , from Syria, but more material of both species is required in order to verify the synonymy.

Ecological and biological notes

Granivorous species. It prefers open and dry habitats including pastures, shores of artificial lakes, seashore with phrygana, abandoned gardens, but also found in limestone gorges with Platanus trees, open pine forests and open oak woodlands. Nests are built directly in the ground and under stones.

Lowland species, the highest locality in Greece was recorded at about 570 m a.s.l. (L. Borowiec pers. comm.).

Distribution

Trichomyrmex perplexus was described from Armenia and recorded from United Arab Emirates ( Collingwood et al. 2011), the Middle East including Jordan, and Syria ( Borowiec 2014), Eastern Europe and from the Mediterranean Basin including Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus ( Borowiec 2014). It is common in the Aegean Islands, Crete, Macedonia, Dodecanese Islands, Ionian Islands, and Thessaly ( Borowiec & Salata 2012, 2013; L. Borowiec pers. comm.).

Figures

Fig. 11. Trichomyrmex perplexus (Radchenko, 1997), worker, Cyprus (CASENT 0281551). A. Body in profile. B. Body in dorsal view. C. Head in full-face view. (photos: Estella Ortega).