Solenopsis elhawagryi

Identification
Major workers can be easily separated from other Arabian Solenopsis by the color, head partially brownish yellow with the area in front of eyes yellowish and few scattered yellowish spots; posterior margin of first gastral tergite brownish. In addition, S. elhawagryi is similar to Solenopsis omana, both having the postpetiole with anteroventral projection, but the former species can be readily recognized from the later by the number of ommatidia of eyes which is four-five whereas in omana, eyes have seven ommatidia.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Saudi Arabia.

Nomenclature

 *  elhawagryi. Solenopsis elhawagryi Sharaf & Aldawood, 2012: 4, figs. 1-20 (w.q.) SAUDI ARABIA.

Worker
Major Worker - Holotype worker (Major). TL 2.37; HL 0.65; HW 0.52; SL 0.37; EL 0.05; PRW 0.30; ML 0.62; PL 0.17; PW 0.17; PPL 0.12; PPW 0.17; Indices: SI 71; CI 80. Paratype major workers. TL 1.87–2.62; HL 0.50–0.65; HW 0.40–0.50; SL 0.30–0.40; EL 0.05; PRW 0.25–0.32; ML 0.50–0.77; PL 0.15–0.22; PW 0.12–0.20; PPL 0.10–0.15; PPW 0.12–0.20; Indices: SI 60–80; CI 76–88 (12 measured).

Head clearly longer than broad with weakly convex sides and nearly straight or very feebly concave posterior margin; cephalic dorsum smooth and shining with abundant short pitted setae; eyes small and oval, with four-five ommatidia; anterior clypeal margin with a central pair of stout projecting teeth and a lateral pair of short, broad basal blunt teeth; mandibles smooth and shiny, armed with four teeth, apical tooth largest followed by two subequal teeth, more widely separated, basal tooth smallest; antennae with terminal funicular segment long and about 3 times longer than proceeding segment; frontal carina much reduced. Metanotal groove a V-shape, with a narrow, acute cleft; propodeum outline a continuous curve in lateral view; propodeal spiracle circular. Petiolar peduncle with a small ventral tooth, high node and rounded dorsum, in dorsal view and about twice as broad as long. Postpetiole profile high and slightly spherical, with a distinct anteroventral tooth-like process bearing few setae; dorsum with a weak, superficial alveolate pattern; pilosity of mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole and gaster relatively abundant and long. Coloration overall yellow; head partially brownish yellow with the area in front of eyes yellowish and few scattered yellowish spots; posterior margin of first gastral tergite brownish. Overall smooth and shining.

Minor worker Paratype small workers. TL 1.55–1.82; HL 0.42–0.47; HW 0.35–0.50; SL 0.22–0.30; EL 0.02; PRW 0.17–0.25; ML 0.42–0.50; PL 0.12–0.17; PW 0.12–0.15; PPL 0.10–0.12; PPW 0.12–0.15; Indices: SI 50–88; CI 74–111 (16 measured).

Most characters are as in the major workers but: head little longer than broad, with feebly convex sides; eyes proportionally smaller, with four ommatidia; central clypeal teeth widely separated, long, and acute; body pilosity shorter, especially on the head.

Queen
Paratype queen. TL 4.30; HL 0.75; HW 0.65; SL 0.47; EL 0.22; PRW 0.72; ML 1.40; PL 0.35; PW 0.27; PPL 0.25; PPW 0.30; Indices: SI 72; CI 87.

Head distinctly longer than broad with slightly convex sides and a feebly concave posterior margin; cephalic dorsum smooth and brilliant with abundant inwardly-directed setae, central setae much longer; the three ocelli large and whitish; eyes very large (about 0.33× HW) with more than 25 ommatidia in the longest row; anterior clypeal margin with a central pair of stout projecting teeth, and a lateral pair of short, broad basal blunt teeth; mandibles faintly longitudinally striated, armed with four teeth, the distal one being the largest, and the second and third being subequal and slightly far apart; basal tooth the smallest; antennal scape short, just surpassing the level of posterior margin of eyes; frontal carinae much reduced. Mesosoma robust with abundant, short, suberect setae. Petiolar dorsum narrow and convex in profile. Postpetiolar dorsum wide and convex. Petiole and postpetiole have abundant, long, backwardly-directed setae and petiole with a small distinct anteroventral toothlike process which bears few long setae; both smooth and shining, with imbricate sculpture on sides. Gaster long and robust. Color uniformly dark brown, funiculus, distal half of scape, legs and mandibles yellowish, basal half of scape brownish yellow, mesopleura light brownish.