Trichomyrmex lameerei

One paralectotype specimen is mounted with a seed between mandibles which indicates a granivorous feeding habitat of this species (Sharaf et al. 2016).

Identification
Sharaf et al. (2016) - Trichomyrmex chobauti is closest to Trichomyrmex almosayari and Trichomyrmex lameerei. All three species share the abundant long ammochaete J-shaped hairs that form a distinct psammophore on the underside of the head. Trichomyrmex chobauti can be readily separated from T. almosayari by the bicoloured body, the oval eyes, and the straight or feebly concave posterior margin of the head. From T. lameerei it can be distinguished by the smaller size, the longer antennal scapes that reach the posterior margin of the head, and the unsculptured posterior half of the head.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: United Arab Emirates. Palaearctic Region: Algeria, Israel.

Nomenclature

 *  lameerei. Holcomyrmex lameerei Forel, 1902a: 150 (w.) ALGERIA. Santschi, 1907: 327 (q.m.). Combination in Monomorium: Emery, 1908h: 673; in M. (Equestrimessor): Santschi, 1919d: 92; in M. (Xeromyrmex): Emery, 1922e: 177; in Trichomyrmex: Ward et al., 2014: 16. See also: Bolton, 1987: 297. Current subspecies: nominal plus stauderi.

Worker
Sharaf et al. (2016) - TL 4.06–4.50; HL 0.95–1.09; HW 1.00–1.15; SL 0.53–0.75; EL 0.16–0.18; ML 1.25–1.40; PW 0.60–0.61; PTL 0.30–0.31; PTW 0.21–0.25; PPL 0.17–0.23; PPW 0.27–0.30; CI 105–106; EI 16; SI 53–65 (CASENT0249870, CASENT0249871).

Head. Broader than long, with emarginated posterior margin, rounded corners and feebly convex sides; anterior clypeal margin feebly concave; eyes of moderate size (EL 0.15–0.16 × HW) with 12 ommatidia in longest row; scapes when laid back from their insertions fail to reach posterior margin of head.

Mesosoma. Metanotal groove impressed; propodeal dorsum 1.5 × longer than propodeal declivity in profile.

Petiole. Peduncle long; two small lateral projections at junction between node and peduncle seen in dorsal view; petiolar node high and rounded in profile.

Pilosity. Underside of head with abundant long J-shaped hairs forming a distinct psammophore; cephalic surface with sparse short hairs directed inward to midline of head; anterior clypeal margin with abundant long hairs; scapes with sparse appressed pubescence; funiculus with dense appressed pubescence; mesosoma with abundant short hairs, few longer pairs on pronotum and mesonotum; petiole with abundant short hairs; postpetiole with about seven pairs of long hairs directed backward; gaster with few sparse long hairs and abundant appressed pubescence.

Sculpture. Cephalic surface finely and densely longitudinally costulate; mandibles longitudinally rugulose; mesosomal dorsum finely transversely costulate; petiolar node nearly smooth and slightly shining; postpetiolar dorsum irregularly longitudinally rugulose; gaster smooth and shining.

Colour. Head, mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole and appendages reddish brown, gaster dark brown or blackish brown.

Type Material
Sharaf et al. (2016) - Algeria. Palearctic, syntype worker [examined], (Lectotype here designated; Hamada between Houderat, Sahara Algeria, A. Forel (CASENT0249871) ; paralectotype worker with same data as the lectotype (CASENT0249870) [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.
 * Collingwood C. A., D. Agosti, M. R. Sharaf, A. Van Harten, 2011. Order Hymenoptera, family Formicidae. Arthropod Fauna of the UAE 4: 405-474
 * Collingwood C.A., D.Agosti, M.R. Sharaf, and A. van Harten. 2011. Order Hymenoptera, family Formicidae. Arthropod fauna of the UAE, 4: 405474
 * Delye, G., and J. L. Bonaric. "Fourmis du sud Marocain." Etude de certains milieux du Maroc et de leux evolution recente RCP 249 (1973).
 * Délye, G., and J. C. Bonaric. "Les fourmis arenicoles du sud marocain (Hym. formicidae)." Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France 3 (1973): 107-110.
 * Emery, C. "Beiträge zur Monographie der Formiciden des paläarktischen Faunengebietes. (Hym.) Teil V. Monomorium." Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 1908 (1908): 663-686.
 * Ettershank G. 1966. A generic revision of the world Myrmicinae related to Solenopsis and Pheidologeton (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Aust. J. Zool. 14: 73-171.
 * Forel A. 1905. Miscellanea myrmécologiques II (1905). Ann. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 49: 155-185.
 * Forel, A. "Les fourmis du Sahara algérien récoltées par M. le Professeur A. Lameere et le Dr. A. Diehl." Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique 46 (1902): 147-158.
 * Forel, A. "Miscellanea myrmécologiques II (1905)." Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique 49 (1905): 155-185.
 * Santschi, F. "Nouveaux genre et sous-genre de fourmis barbaresques (Hym.)." Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France 1919 (1919): 90-92.
 * Santschi, F. 1907. Fourmis de Tunisie capturées en 1906. Revue Suisse de Zoologie 15: 305-334.
 * Sharaf M. R., S. Salman, H. M. Al Dhafer, S. A. Akbar, M. S. Abdel-Dayem, A. S. Aldawood. 2016. Taxonomy and distribution of the genus Trichomyrmex Mayr, 1865 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Arabian Peninsula, with the description of two new species. European Journal of Taxonomy 246: 1–36
 * Vonshak M., and A. Ionescu-Hirsch. 2009. A checklist of the ants of Israel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Israel Journal of Entomology 39: 33-55.