Solenopsis occipitalis

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Egypt, Tunisia.

Nomenclature

 * . Solenopsis occipitalis Santschi, 1911f: 83 (w.) TUNISIA.
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-localities: Tunisia: Aïn Draham (Normand), Tunisia: Le Kef (Normand).
 * Type-depository: NHMB.
 * Combination in S. (Diplorhoptrum): Santschi, 1934e: 575.
 * Status as species: Emery, 1922e: 202; Santschi, 1934e: 575; Ettershank, 1966: 142; Cagniant, 1968a: 143; Cagniant, 1970a: 418; Bolton, 1995b: 389; Cagniant, 2006a: 196; Sharaf, Taylor & Klingenberg, 2009: 55 (redescription); Sharaf & Aldawood, 2011: 478 (in key) ; Sharaf & Aldawood, 2012: 19 (in key); Borowiec, L. 2014: 157.
 * Distribution: Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia.

Worker
Sharaf et al. (2009) - TL 1.30–1.71, HL 0.41–0.48, HW 0.38–0.41, SL 0.26–0.29, PL 0.12–0.17, PW 0.12–0.15, PPL 0.09–0.11, PPW 0.14–0.15, EL 0.04–0.05, AL 0.44–0.49, SI 68–70, CI 85–95 (4 measured).

Head rectangular, a little longer than broad. Occipital margin straight with rounded posterior corners. Clypeal carinae divergent anteriorly and running to the margin where they project as a pair of well developed teeth. Eyes with a single facet situated at the anterior third of the head sides. Mandibles armed with four teeth. Mesosoma quite short, promesonotum convex. Metanotal groove distinct. Propodeum short, high and clearly convex, with the basal face making a continuous arc with the declivity. Petiole narrow and little higher than long. A smooth and shining species. Pilosity pale, fine and abundant. Body colour yellow. Masticatory margin of the mandibles and the first gastral tergite dark brown; antennae and legs yellow.

Santschi described the eyes of this species as consisting of three facets, but only a single, oval and relatively large facet was seen in all type workers. In addition he mentioned that the masticatory margin of the mandibles, the occiput, petiole and the first gastral tergite were dark brown; with the antennae and legs yellow. We find this species is unicolorous yellow except for the masticatory margin of the mandibles and the first gastral tergite which are pale brown.

Type Material
Sharaf et al. (2009) - Syntype workers, TUNISIA: Ain-Draham and Le Kef (Normand) [examined].

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.
 * Cagniant, H. 1968. Liste preliminaire de fourmis forestieres d'Algerie. Resultats obtenus de 1963 a 1964. Bulletin de la Société d'Histoire Naturelle de Toulouse 104: 138-147
 * Cagniant, H. "Liste actualisee des fourmis du Maroc (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)." Myrmecologische Nachrichten 8 (2006): 193-200.
 * Cagniant, H. Les peuplements de fourmis des forêts algériennes: écologie, biocénotique, essai biologique. Universite de Toulouse, 1973.
 * Santschi F. 1934. Contribution aux Solenopsis paléarctiques. Revue Suisse de Zoologie. 41: 565-592.
 * Santschi, F. "Formicides nouveaux de l'Afrique Mineure (4e note suite)." Bulletin de la Société d' Histoire naturelle de l' Afrique du Nord 2 (1911): 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.
 * Sharaf M.R., A.S. Aldawood. 2011. First occurrence of Solenopsis Westwood 1840 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with description of a new species S. saudiensis n. sp. Ann. soc. entomol. Fr. 47 (34) : 474-479.