Messor picturatus

Identification
Collingwood and Agosti (1996) - HW 1.92-2.12; EL/HW 0.21-0.23. This species has the red head and alitrunk of the Messor minor species group but differs in the more rounded head, grainy head and stronger alitrunk sculpture. This is particularly evident in the larger examples. Small workers are hard to tell apart except for the larger eyes. The petiole in M. picturatus is also thicker compared with similar sized examples of M. minor and the anteroventral prominence on the postpetiole is more developed. M. minor examples from Corsica and what appears to be the same species from Tenerife have a few erect hairs on the first gastral tergite. These are restricted to two or three on the posterior margin of the first tergite in M. picturatus.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Saudi Arabia. Palaearctic Region: Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Morocco.

It is known from North Africa, Saudi Arabia and Iraq (Abdul-Rassoul et al. 2013).

Nomenclature

 *  picturatus. Messor sublaeviceps var. picturatus Santschi, 1927c: 243 (w.q.) ALGERIA. [First available use of Messor barbarus st. minor var. picturata Santschi, 1921d: 69; unavailable name.] Santschi, 1939d: 71 (q.m.). Subspecies of minor: Cagniant, 1968a: 143; of medioruber: Cagniant, 1970a: 415. Raised to species: Collingwood, 1985: 251.