Temnothorax megalops

Identification
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. (Bolton 1982)

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

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.