Messor hismai

Messor hismai
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Stenammini
Genus:	Messor
Species:	M. hismai
Binomial name
Messor hismai Collingwood & Agosti, 1996 Specimen Labels

Nothing is known about the biology of Messor hismai.

Identification

Collingwood and Agosti (1996) - This species is similar to Messor foreli but has distinct propodeal spines and a generally darker colour.

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 20.033333° to 20.033333°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Saudi Arabia (type locality), United Arab Emirates.

Distribution based on AntMaps

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.

Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

• hismai. Messor hismai Collingwood & Agosti, 1996: 318, fig. 4 (w.) SAUDI ARABIA.
  • Type-material: holotype worker, 5 paratype workers.
  • Type-locality: holotype Saudi Arabia: Wadi Hisma, 28°02’N, 36°07’E, 1120 m. (W. Büttiker); paratypes with same data.
  • Type-depository: NHMB (perhaps also in WMLC).
  • Status as species: Collingwood, et al. 2011: 426; Borowiec, L. 2014: 106.
  • Distribution: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates.

Description

Worker

TL 5.32; HL 1.20; HW 1.28; SL 1.20; EL/HW 0.19.

This is a small, dark, apparently monomorphic species with distinct propodeal spines. The whole of the alitrunk dorsum has reticulopunctate sculpture but the nodes and gaster are smooth and glossy black. There are no dorsal hairs on the propodeum or nodes. There are some short hairs on the genae and the gaster with a few longer hairs on the posterior tergite border.

Type Material

Holotype: worker, Saudi Arabia, Wadi Hisma, 28°02'N 36°07'E, 1120 m, W Biittiker. - Paratypes: 5 workers, same series as holotype.

References

• Borowiec, L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
• Collingwood, C. A. and D. Agosti. 1996. Formicidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) of Saudi Arabia (part 2). Fauna Saudi Arabia. 15:300-385. (page 318, Fig. 4 worker described)
• Collingwood, C.A., Agosti, D., Sharaf, M.R., van Harten, A. 2011. Order Hymenoptera, family Formicidae. Arthropod fauna of the UAE 4: 405-474.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
• Collingwood C. A., D. Agosti, M. R. Sharaf, A. Van Harten, 2011. Order Hymenoptera, family Formicidae. Arthropod Fauna of the UAE 4: 405-474