Oxyopomyrmex pygmalioni

Borowiec collected specimens on grassy coastal terraces of cliffs. Despite low temperatures (16° C) and windy weather, the workers were active and were hand collected between clumps of grass.

Identification
Salata and Borowiec (2015) - Worker. Oxyopomyrmex pygmalioni belongs to the group of species characterized by a distinctly punctate propodeum. It is distinguished from Oxyopomyrmex emeryi and Oxyopomyrmex oculatus by the longitudinal striae covering whole frontal surface of the head and the presence of rugosity on dorsal surface of the pronotum. From Oxyopomyrmex negevensis it differs by the lack of the transverse striation on dorsal surface of the pronotum, the shiny abdomen and by more dense and thicker hairiness at the scape and legs. See also differential diagnosis under Oxyopomyrmex polybotesi.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Cyprus.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  pygmalioni. Oxyopomyrmex pygmalioni Salata & Borowiec, 2015b: 53, figs. 61-63, 84 (w.) CYPRUS.

Worker
(n=19): HL: 0.698 ± 0.022 (0.659-0.726); HW: 0.662 ± 0.022 (0.603-0.701); SL: 0.472 ± 0.015 (0.446-0.5); EL: 0.22 ± 0.005 (0.212-0.229); EW: 0.124 ± 0.003 (0.122-0.134); ML: 0.817 ± 0.037 (0.749-0.894); PSL: 0.17 ± 0.012 (0.14-0.19); SDL: 0.121 ± 0.008 (0.109-0.134); PL: 0.311 ± 0.022 (0.268-0.335); PPL: 0.224 ± 0.025 (0.179-0.246); PH: 0.223 ± 0.01 (0.201-0.235); PPH: 0.219 ± 0.006 (0.212-0.229); PNW: 0.438 ± 0.014 (0.402-0.458); TL: 0.478 ± 0.02 (0.458-0.503); TW: 0.092 ± 0.003 (0.089-0.098); PW: 0.163 ± 0.01 (0.145-0.184); PPW: 0.238 ± 0.014 (0.212-0.268); HI: 95.0 ± 1.5 (91.5-96.8); SI1: 71.3 ± 1.8 (68.3-75.2); EI: 56.4 ± 1.75 (55.2-60.9); SI2: 71.3 ± 1.8 (68.3-72.2); MI: 186.7 ± 4.9 (176.2-197.7); SPI: 138.8 ±10.7 (113.8-164.2); PI1: 138.8 ± 8.3 (125.1-150.2); PI2: 37.3 ± 2.6 (32.9-41.9); PPI1: 107.6 ± 4.3 (100.0-112.8); PPI2: 54.4 ± 3.8 (46.2-62.2); HTI1: 72.9 ± 2.6 (67.3-76.3); HTI2: 19.3 ± 0.8 (17.9-20.1).

Head, thorax and abdomen black. Antennae black, only apex of the scapes and first five segments of funiculus brown. Legs black, only apex of femora, tibiae and tarsi brown.

Head rectangular, longer than wide, lateral surfaces below eyes straight, slightly rounded on the posterior edges. Anterior margin of the clypeus shiny with longitudinal striae, straight. Eyes elongate, strongly narrowing downward, reaching anteroventral margin of head, 0.3 times as long as length of the head. Scape short, 0.7 times as long as width of the head, at base 0.8 times as wide as in apex, gradually widened, slightly bent downward. Funiculus short, 1.5 times as long as scape, first segment elongate, triangular, 1.6 times as long as wide on apex, 2.25 times as long as second segment, length ratio of segments 100:44:33:33:39:44:56:89:111:200, apical segments 1.9 times as wide as basal segments. Surface of the scape with very fine microsculpture, shiny, covered with short, dense, appressed setae.

Promesonotum 1.1 times as long as wide, convex in profile. Promesonotal suture distinct, the border between dorsal and posterior surfaces of the promesonotum gently curved in profile view. Propodeum quadrate, 0.9 times as long as wide, propodeal spines short, triangular, erect. Petiole rounded with short peduncle, its anterior face straight, node rounded on dorsal surface in profile. Posterior face straight. Ventral margin of petiole with small teeth-like projection or smooth. Postpetiole regularly rounded in profile. Postpetiole 0.9 times as long as wide in dorsal view, regularly widened from base to top, apical half with gently rounded sides.

Mandibles rounded, with outer and dorsal edges straight and smooth, inner margin with 7-8 teeth, the apical tooth massive and the longest. Clypeus shiny, micropunctate with longitudinal striae on entire surface. Frontal carinae short, extending to 1/3 length of eye; antennal fossa deeply impressed, microreticulate, frontal lobes rugulose with thick longitudinal striae, shiny between rugosities. Frons shiny, all surface with thick longitudinal striae and dense rugulose. Area above eyes shiny with thick longitudinal striae and densely rugulose. Ventral surface of the head with distinct striation and rugulose, gena shiny, rugulose with thick longitudinal striae. Entire head bearing setae, posterior margin with dense erect setae directed forward, lateral surfaces of the head with appressed setae directed toward anterior margin, frontal area with dense, appressed to semierect setae placed transversely, directed to the center of the head, ventral surface of the head with a prominent psammophore and appressed to erect long setae. Pronotum strongly punctate, rugose, lateral surfaces strongly punctate with fine longitudinal striae. Dorsal suface of pronotum strongly punctate and rugose at the edges to rugose at the central surface. Mesonotum strongly punctate on the top and lateral surfaces, dorsal surface of propodeum strongly punctate to punctate, below spiracles strongly punctate with fine longitudinal striae at the posterior edge. Dorsal suface of mesosoma with at least 5 long setae on anterior half, mesonotum and anterior propodeum with a few long setae. Base of petiole and postpetiole on the entire surface punctate, nodes of the petiole punctate on the top and lateral surfaces, postpetiole node punctate, smooth with sparse punctation on the top, covered with several setae. Gaster shiny and smooth, bearing dense, erect to semierect setae.

Legs short, hind femora 0.7 times as long as mesosoma length, hind tibia 0.8 times as long as hind femora, hind tarsi 1.1 times as long as hind femora. Dorsal surface of femora with short, sparse, semierect setae, inner margin with a row of the sparse, long, semierect setae, tibiae bearing long, appressed to semierect setae on the entire surface, inner margins with a row of appressed setae.

Type Material
Holotype worker: CYPRUS, Paphos distr., 21 m | Cape Drepano | 34°54.027 N/32°19.159 E | 2 V 2012, L. Borowiec ; 18 paratype workers: the same data as lectotype (DBET).

Etymology
Named after the Cypriot king Pygmalion. According to Ovid’s narrative, Pygmalion was a sculptor who fell in love with an ivory statue which he had carved. Through Aphrodite’s blessing the sculpture changed to a woman and the king could fortunately marry her. Oxyopomyrmex pygmalioni is the most densely and distinctly sculptured species, reminiscent of a raw sculpture.