TEMNOTHORAX ALMEQERI, A NEW ANT SPECIES HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) FROM THE ASIR MOUNTAINS, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA, WITH A KEY TO THE ARABIAN TEMNOTHORAX

摘要

We describe the new species Temnothorax almeqeri sp. nov. from the Asir Mountains, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia based on the worker caste and present a revised key to the Arabian Temnothorax species. The new species is illustrated using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Temnothorax almeqeri sp. nov. closely resembles the African species, T. cinatus Bolton 1982 from Kenya, but can be distinguished by the following characters: promesonotum and mesosoma in profile meet in an elevated ridge; profile of propodeal spines sharp, long and curved; meosomal sculpture strong; body pilosity more abundant, finer and distinctly longer on mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole; body brown; mandibles, appendages, anterior 1/4 portion of first gastral tergite and end of gaster uniform yellow.