Review of the ant genus Technomyrmex Mayr, 1872 in the Arabian Peninsula (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Abstract

The taxonomy of the dolichoderine ants of the genusTechnomyrmexMayr, 1872 is revised for the Arabian Peninsula. Six species are treated,T.albipes(F. Smith, 1861),T.difficilisForel, 1892,T.brianiSharaf, 2009,T.vexatus(Santschi, 1919),T.montaseriSharaf, Collingwood & Aldawood, 2011, andT.setosusCollingwood, 1985. The successful tramp speciesT.difficilisForel, 1892 is recorded for the first time from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Yemen, representing new records for the Palearctic Region.Technomyrmexvexatus(Santschi, 1919) is a new species record for Yemen. The queen caste of the rare endemic species,T.brianiSharaf, 2009 is described for the first time. A neotype for KSA endemicT.setosusCollingwood 1985 is designated based on a specimen collected from the type locality, the Asir Mountains, KSA, including new information on habitats and distribution. A male cast ofTechnomyrmex, possibly ofT.setosus, is also described. An illustrated key based on the worker caste of the Arabian species ofTechnomyrmexis given. New geographical records and a distribution map for the treated species are presented.