Solenopsis lou

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Algeria.

Nomenclature

 * . Solenopsis lou Forel, 1902a: 152 (q.m.) ALGERIA.
 * Type-material: syntype queens, syntype males (numbers not stated).
 * Type-locality: Algeria: Hammam Salahin, nr Biskra, 12.iv.1896, “in copula” (A. Diehl).
 * Type-depository: MHNG.
 * [Also described as new by Forel, 1903b: 459, where date of capture is given as 16.iii.1896.]
 * Santschi, 1911f: 81 (w.).
 * Status as species: Forel, 1905b: 174; Emery, 1909a: 35; Santschi, 1911f: 81; Karavaiev, 1912a: 12; Emery, 1922e: 202; Karavaiev, 1927b: 108; Finzi, 1936: 180; Ettershank, 1966: 142; Cagniant, 1970a: 418; Bolton, 1995b: 389; Sharaf, Taylor & Klingenberg, 2009: 54 (redescription); Sharaf & Aldawood, 2011: 478 (in key); Sharaf & Aldawood, 2012: 19 (in key); Borowiec, L. 2014: 156.
 * Senior synonym of aurata: Karavaiev, 1927b: 108; Bolton, 1995b: 389.
 * Distribution: Algeria, Egypt.
 * aurata. Solenopsis latro subsp. aurata Karavaiev, 1912a: 11, fig. 4 (w.) ALGERIA.
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-locality: Algeria: Laverdure (Karawajew).
 * Type-depository: SIZK.
 * Subspecies of latro: Emery, 1922e: 202; Ettershank, 1966: 139 (error).
 * Junior synonym of lou: Karavaiev, 1927b: 108; Bolton, 1995b: 386.

Worker
Sharaf et al. (2009) - TL 1.50–2.00, HL 0.45–0.55, HW 0.30–0.47, SL 0.27–0.38, PL 0.15–0.22, PW 0.12–0.15, PPL 0.10–0.28, PPW 0.12–0.15, AL 0.48–0.62, EL 0.02–0.05, SI 80–90, CI 67–85 (7 measured).

Eyes with 9 facets, the outer circle of facets enclosing a single relatively large facet. Head with a higher CI, i.e. relatively longer and narrower, than the other species, also with a deeper profile. The head is parallel-sided up to the two-thirds point then narrowing significantly and with broadly rounded posterior corners. Clypeus with a distinctly impressed anterior margin and sharply defined carinae. Frontal lobes close together. Mandibles similar to those on the major worker of cooperi in being quite broad and with strong black teeth. Scapes slender, thickened weakly in the apical one-third, and quite short. Head with a finely sculptured surface and scattered but distinct hair pits. Promesonotum with an unbroken, shallowly convex profile. Metanotal groove deep and sharply margined on the dorsum but interrupted laterally. Basal face of propodeum making a continuous curve with declivity; propodeal spiracle small. Petiole node quite high but thick, with a domed dorsum and a short stout peduncle. Overall with quite abundant, fine, short erect hairs. Colour uniform throughout.

Queen
Sharaf et al. (2009) - TL 5.3–5.6, HL 0.75–0.80, HW 0.70, SL 0.45–0.55, EL 0.25, AL 1.60, SI 64–79, CI 88–93 (2 measured).

Male
Sharaf et al. (2009) - TL 4.40–5.30, HL 0.60–0.70, HW 0.65–0.70, SL 0.25–0.35, EL 0.25–0.30, AL 1.50–2.00, SI 36–50, CI 100–117 (4 measured).

Type Material
Sharaf et al. (2009) - Syntype gyne and male, ALGERIA: Biskra, Hammam Salahin, 12.iv.1896 (Diehl) [examined].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bakr R. F. A., H. H. Fadl, R. M. Badawy, and M. R. Sharaf. 2007. Myrmecophile insects associated with some ant species (Hymenoptera : Formicidae )in Egypt. The second international conference of economic entomology (Entomological Society of Egypt) ,Cairo, Egypt, 8-11 December, (1): 205-233.
 * Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
 * Ettershank G. 1966. A generic revision of the world Myrmicinae related to Solenopsis and Pheidologeton (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Aust. J. Zool. 14: 73-171.
 * Finzi, B. "Risultati scientifici della spedizione di S. A. S. il Principe Alessandro della Torre e Tasso nell'Egitto e peninsola del Sinai. XI. Formiche." Bulletin de la Société Entomologique d'Egypte 20 (1936): 155-210.
 * Forel A. 1905. Miscellanea myrmécologiques II (1905). Ann. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 49: 155-185.
 * Forel, A. "Die Sitten und Nester einiger Ameisen der Sahara bei Tugurt und Biskra." Mitteilungen der Schweizerischen Entomologischen Gessellschaft or Bulletin de la Societe Entomologique Suisse 10 (1903): 453-459.
 * Forel, A. "Les fourmis du Sahara algérien récoltées par M. le Professeur A. Lameere et le Dr. A. Diehl." Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique 46 (1902): 147-158.
 * Forel, A. "Miscellanea myrmécologiques II (1905)." Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique 49 (1905): 155-185.
 * IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
 * Karavaiev V. 1912. Ameisen aus Tunesien und Algerien, nebst einigen unterwegs in Italien gesammelten Arten. Rus. Entomol. Obozr. 12: 1-22.
 * Karavaiev V. 1927. Myrmekologische Miszellen. Ezheg. Zool. Muz. 27: 104-112.
 * Santschi F. 1934. Contribution aux Solenopsis paléarctiques. Revue Suisse de Zoologie. 41: 565-592.
 * Santschi, F. 1911. Formicides nouveaux de l'Afrique Mineure (4e note suite). Bulletin de la Société d'Histoire Naturelle de l'Afrique du Nord 2: 78-85
 * Sharaf M. R., B. Taylor, and C. Klingenberg. 2009. Ants of the genus Solenopsis Westwood, 1840 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Egypt with a description of the worker castes of S. cooperi Donisthorpe, 1947. Zootaxa 2004: 49-58.