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. 2021 May 27:9:e66058.
doi: 10.3897/BDJ.9.e66058. eCollection 2021.

An update to the taxonomy and distribution of the Arabian Tapinoma Foerster, 1850 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with an illustrated key and remarks on habitats

Mahmoud M Abdel-Dayem  1   2 , Hathal Mohammed Al Dhafer  3   1 , Abdulrahman S Aldawood  1 , Mostafa R Sharaf  1
Affiliations

An update to the taxonomy and distribution of the Arabian Tapinoma Foerster, 1850 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with an illustrated key and remarks on habitats

Mahmoud M Abdel-Dayem et al. Biodivers Data J. .

Abstract

Background: Tapinoma Foerster belongs to the ant subfamily Dolichoderinae and the vast majority of its species are arboreal or generalised foragers. The genus is composed of 70 described species, 22 known subspecies and six valid fossil species worldwide, while from the Arabian Peninsula, three species have been recorded so far.

New information: Ants of the genus Tapinoma of the Arabian Peninsula are reviewed, keyed and illustrated, based on the worker caste. Three species are diagnosed, T. melanocephalum (Fabricius, 1793), T. simrothi Krausse, 1911 and T. wilsoni Sharaf & Aldawood, 2012. We present the first illustrated key to the Arabian Tapinoma, enhanced by automontage images to facilitate species recognition. New distributional data for species are presented, based on recently-collected material from the region and literature records. Information on habitats' preference and biology of species are given.

Keywords: Dolichoderinae; Afrotropical Region; Middle East; endemic.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Map of the Arabian Peninsula.
Figure 2a.
Figure 2a.
body in profile.
Figure 2b.
Figure 2b.
body in dorsal view.
Figure 2c.
Figure 2c.
head in full-face view.
Figure 3a.
Figure 3a.
body in profile.
Figure 3b.
Figure 3b.
body in dorsal view.
Figure 3c.
Figure 3c.
head in full-face view.
Figure 4a.
Figure 4a.
body in profile.
Figure 4b.
Figure 4b.
body in dorsal view.
Figure 4c.
Figure 4c.
head in full-face view.
Figure 5a.
Figure 5a.
Tapinoma wilsoni profile showing the concave declivity and sharply defined raised angle, CASENT0919800.
Figure 5b.
Figure 5b.
Tapinoma imrothi profile showing the rounded outline between propodeal dorsum and declivity, CASENT0919801.
Figure 5c.
Figure 5c.
head in full-face view of Tapinoma simrothi showing the median clypeal notch, CASENT0919801.
Figure 5d.
Figure 5d.
head in full-face view of Tapinoma melanocephalum showing the absence of the clypeal notch, CASENT0922277.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Distribution map of Tapinoma melanocephalum.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Distribution map of Tapinoma simrothi.
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
Distribution map of Tapinoma wilsoni.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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