Messor hismai

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Collingwood and Agosti (1996) - This species is similar to Messor foreli but has distinct propodeal spines and a generally darker colour.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates.

Nomenclature

 * . Messor hismai Collingwood & Agosti, 1996: 318, fig. 4 (w.) SAUDI ARABIA.
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 5 paratype workers.
 * Type-locality: holotype Saudi Arabia: Wadi Hisma, 28°02’N, 36°07’E, 1120 m. (W. Büttiker); paratypes with same data.
 * Type-depository: NHMB (perhaps also in WMLC).
 * Status as species: Collingwood, et al. 2011: 426; Borowiec, L. 2014: 106.
 * Distribution: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates.

Worker
TL 5.32; HL 1.20; HW 1.28; SL 1.20; EL/HW 0.19.

This is a small, dark, apparently monomorphic species with distinct propodeal spines. The whole of the alitrunk dorsum has reticulopunctate sculpture but the nodes and gaster are smooth and glossy black. There are no dorsal hairs on the propodeum or nodes. There are some short hairs on the genae and the gaster with a few longer hairs on the posterior tergite border.

Type Material
Holotype: worker, Saudi Arabia, Wadi Hisma, 28°02'N 36°07'E, 1120 m, W Biittiker. - Paratypes: 5 workers, same series as holotype.

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