Messor foreli

This is a true desert species common in the northern Sahara (Collingwood and Agosti 1996).

Identification
Collingwood and Agosti (1996) - HW 1.35-1.39; SI 94; EL/HW 0.30. This is a small species characterised by its large eyes, dentate propodeum and hairless propodeum, nodes and first gastral tergite. The colour is evenly reddish brown to brownish black and the sculpture is dilute with the whole body shining. The postpetiole is rather low and slightly truncate.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates. Palaearctic Region: Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Oman, Tunisia.

Nomenclature

 *  foreli. Messor aegyptiacus var. foreli Santschi, 1923f: 322, fig. 1 (w.) TUNISIA. Raised to species: Bernard, 1981b: 143. Senior synonym of fossulatus: Cagniant & Espadaler, 1998: 427. Current subspecies: nomial plus brevispinosus, surcoufi.
 * fossulatus. Messor aegyptiacus var. fossulatus Santschi, 1923f: 323, fig. 1 (w.q.m.) TUNISIA. Subspecies of aegyptiacus: Menozzi, 1940: 267. Junior synonym of foreli: Cagniant & Espadaler, 1998: 427.