Tetramorium judas

Identification
A member of the Tetramorium semilaeve species complex in the Tetramorium caespitum species group.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Israel.

Nomenclature

 * . Tetramorium caespitum subsp. judas Wheeler, W.M. & Mann, 1916: 172 (w.) JORDAN.
 * Type-material: 9 syntype workers.
 * Type-locality: Jordan (“Palestine”): Wady Mojeb (= Wadi Mujib?), 1914 (W.M. Mann).
 * Type-depository: MCZC.
 * Menozzi, 1933b: 70 (q.m.).
 * Subspecies of caespitum: Santschi, 1921b: 433; Emery, 1924d: 277.
 * Subspecies of semilaeve: Menozzi, 1933b: 69; Bolton, 1995b: 409 (error); Vonshak, et al. 2009: 45 (error).
 * Status as species: Kugler, J. 1988: 257.
 * Distribution: Israel, Jordan.

Taxonomic Notes
Status of this taxon remains uncertain. According to the recent redescription (Borowiec et al. 2015) the nominotypical taxon Tetramorium semilaeve is distributed only in the western part of the Mediterranean area, in Balkans the group of species comprises four taxa (Salata & Borowiec 2017). Our material from the eastern part of the Mediterranean area suggests that eastern Turkey, the Middle East and Iran are occupied by a number of undescribed taxa and the group needs further studies (Borowiec & Salata, 2020).