Messor rufotestaceus

This is a non-trailforming species living in small communities (Collingwood and Agosti 1996).

Identification
Collingwood and Agosti (1996) - HW 1.7; EL/HW 0.21. This interesting species stands apart from other Middle Eastern Messor species because the antennal segments are exceptionally thin and the nodes are comparatively low.

Distribution
Collingwood and Agosti (1996) - Known from Syria, Palestine and the northern Sahara.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates. Palaearctic Region: Algeria, Iran, Israel, Oman, Syrian Arab Republic.

Nomenclature

 *  rufotestaceus. Myrmica rufotestacea Foerster, 1850b: 489 (w.) ALGERIA. Emery, 1908e: 439 (s.q.); Forel, 1910a: 9 (m.). Combination in Aphaenogaster: Roger, 1863b: 30; in Messor: Emery, 1908e: 439. Senior synonym of thoracica: Roger, 1863b: 30; of gracilinodis: Dalla Torre, 1893: 104; Emery, 1921f: 74; Menozzi, 1933b: 56.
 * thoracica. Atta thoracica Mayr, 1862: 742, pl. 19, fig. 12 (w.) SYRIA. Junior synonym of rufotestaceus: Roger, 1863b: 30.
 * gracilinodis. Aphaenogaster gracilinodis Emery, 1878b: 55 (w.) SYRIA. Subspecies of rufotestaceus: Emery, 1880: 395. Junior synonym of rufotestaceus: Dalla Torre, 1893: 104.