Temnothorax megalops

Known only from the Sudan type collection and a collection from UAE, nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Prebus (2015) - The following character combination clearly separates T. megalops from the other Afrotropical Temnothorax species: Antennal scapes short, distinctly failing to reach the posterior margin of the head; compound eyes large; post petiole trapezoidal in dorsal view, widest at the anterior 1/5 of the segment; metanotal groove present; head subrectangular; posterior margin of head shallowly but distinctly impressed; setae on the posterior margin of the first gastric tergite separated by about their own length; pilosity of antennal scapes short and adpressed.

Bolton (1982) - This very conspicuous species is easily recognized by its long narrow head, long scapes, large eyes, rounded pronotal corners and lack of denticles on the petiole node, coupled with its impressed metanotal groove and possession of hairs on the first gastral tergite. The closest relatives of megalops in the Afrotropical region are Leptothorax evelynae (=Nesomyrmex evelynae) and Temnothorax cenatus. Both are distinguished from megalops quite easily as the former lacks pilosity on the first gastral tergite except for a sparse apical row, and the latter has strongly sculptured mandibles, smaller eyes and a broader head, and has the petiole node differently shaped.

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

Queen
Males have yet to be collected.

Nomenclature

 *  megalops. Leptothorax (Icothorax) megalops Hamann & Klemm, 1967: 417, fig. 1 (w.q.) SUDAN. Combination in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 271. See also: Bolton, 1982: 331.

Worker
Bolton (1982) - TL 2.5, HL 0.67, HW 0.47, CI 70, SL 0.52, SI 110, PW 0.35, AL 0.72.

Mandibles almost smooth, with faint vestiges of superficial sculpture. Median lobe of clypeus prominent, its anterior margin evenly but shallowly convex. Median clypeal carina present, fine but distinct. Frontal carinae and antennal scrobes absent. Head relatively longer and narrower and scapes relatively longer than any other known species of the region (CI and SI above). Eyes relatively large, maximum diameter 0.18, about 0.38 x HW and with 11-12 ommatidia in the longest row. With the head in full-face view the occipital margin feebly indented medially, rounding broadly and evenly into the sides; the latter approximately parallel but converging slightly anteriorly. Alitrunk in profile with the metanotal groove shallowly impressed, the propodeal spines short, stout and straight. Metapleural lobes low and rounded, the declivity between the spines and the metapleural lobes more or less straight. In dorsal view the pro notal angles broadly and evenly rounded. Petiole in profile with the node bluntly triangular, the anteroventral process small and triangular. Dorsum of head with fine longitudinal rugulae the spaces between which are smooth or at most only faintly superficially punctulate. Dorsal alitrunk with more conspicuous punctulate ground-sculpture which is overlaid by fine, predominantly longitudinal rugulae, although these are irregular in places. Petiole and postpetiole finely punctulate with traces of fine rugulae. First gastral tergite unsculptured. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with quite long blunt hairs which are, however, shorter on the head than on the alitrunk; the appendages without such hairs. Colour uniform yellow.

Queen
Prebus (2015) - (n = 1). EL 0.205; FRS 0.204; HL 0.661; HW 0.506; IOD 0.407; IOcD 0.135; MD 0.147; PH 0.21; PL 0.233; PPH 0.177; PPL 0.153; PPW 0.241; PTW 0.177; PW 0.422; SL 0.536; SPST 0.188; WL 0.904. Indices: CI 76.6; DPeI 76; DPpI 158;

Head subrectangular, longer than wide (CI 76.6); head sides parallel, but converging toward the mandibular insertions anteriorly beyond the level of the antennal insertions in full-face view; posterior head margin with a broad, shallow median impression and posterior corners of head broadly rounded. Anterior clypeal margin convex and entire, with the median clypeal lobe projecting slightly beyond the lateral clypeal lobes. Frontal carinae poorly developed: extending posteriorly about one-half the length of the compound eye. Antennae 12-segmented,antennal scapes relatively short, failing to reach the posterior margin of the head (SI 106). Eyes large (OI 40.5); 13 ommatidia in the longest row. Three ocelli present.

Body more massive than the worker; mesosoma somewhat elongate (WL 1.37 times HL). Scutum and scutellum forming an even, flat surface in profile, broken only by the suture between the two tergites. Propodeal declivity steep. Propodeal spines blunt and slightly longer than in the worker (PSLI 28.4); propodeal lobes small and rounded.

Petiole without a differentiated peduncle. In profile, the anterior face of node forming a shallow concavity anteriorly as it joins the anterior portion of the petiole. Petiolar node in profile relatively low and cuneate (LPeI 111), junction of anterior and posterior faces forming a 90° angle; without differentiated dorsal and posterior faces. In dorsal view petiole elongate (DPeI 76). Postpetiole in profile with proximal half of dorsal margin evenly rounded, and distal half forming an even declivity; nearly equal in height to petiolar node and laterally compressed (LPpI 86.4). In dorsal view postpetiole trapezoidal and wider than long (DPpI 158); widest in the anterior 1/4, and 1.4 times wider than petiole (PPI 136).

Mandibular sculpture: longitudinally irregularly striate along entire length. Clypeus smooth and shiny, bearing 5 longitudinal rugae, with median ruga strongly developed and running posteriorly from the anterior clypeal margin to the level of antennal insertions before weakening. Cephalic dorsum with closely spaced longitudinal rugae, extending the entire length of the head, but becoming weak between the compound eyes and ocelli. In profile, gena anterior to the compound eye strongly reticulate. Scutum and scutellum with longitudinal rugae; propodeum reticulate. Space between propodeal spines with a single strong, arcuate transverse carina, which divides the propodeal dorsum from the declivity. Propodeal declivity with longitudinal rugae. In profile, mesosoma predominantly longitudinally rugose; anterior of pronotum reticulate; sculpture weakened on mesopleuron. Petiole and postpetiole finely punctate, with longitudinal rugae on dorsum of postpeiole. Gaster smooth and shining except for small, widely spaced piligerous punctures.

Mandibles and ventral region of the head with a short, fine yellowish pubescence. Posterior margin of clypeus with two pairs of short, stout setae flanking each side of the median lobe. Frontal carinae with one stout seta each, located at the level of the anterior margin of the compound eye. Dorsal surface of head equipped with several short, blunt-tipped setae. Anterior clypeal margin with two pairs of long setae flanking the median carina. Scapes with abundant, short, subdecumbant pilosity. Propleurae with several short, sharp-tipped setae. Pronotal “neck” and pronotal humeri with short, stout and sparse setae.Procoxae with short, thin and sparse setae. Dorsal surfaces of mesosoma, waist segments and gaster with uniformly erect, sparse and blunt-tipped bristle-like setae which is longer than in the worker. Ventral surfaces of the post-petiole free of pilosity; ventral surface of gaster with short, fine, yellowish pilosity.

Yellow overall with gaster slightly infuscated at the posterior margin of the first tergite.

Type Material
Prebus (2015) - Holotype worker, SUDAN, Wadi Halfa, feuchter Graben, 28.I.1962 (H. Hamann & W. Klemm) (: CASENT0712601) [examined]. Paratype, 1 dealate queen with same data as holotype (NHMW: CASENT0712600) [examined].