Oxyopomyrmex emeryi

Nests occur in humid sand between dunes, or under stones in sandy or clay soil. The entrance is always single and narrow, surrounded by a regular crater, 5 to 8 centimeters in diameter. Nest depth is at least 40- 50 centimeters, and consists of one enormous central gallery and 5 to 10 small chambers. Workers are nocturnal, carrying the cuttings and debris of Helianthemum lippii (L.) (Délye 1971).

Identification
Salata and Borowiec (2015) - Worker. Oxyopomyrmex emeryi belongs to a group of species that have distinctly punctate pronotum. In this group, O. emeryi differs from Oxyopomyrmex polybotesi and Oxyopomyrmex pygmalioni in the lacking rugosity and longitudinal striae on dorsal surface of pronotum. In comparison with Oxyopomyrmex oculatus, O. emeryi differs in the occurrence of vertical striation on the dorsal surface of the pronotum and from Oxyopomyrmex negevensis it can be distinguished by the shining abdomen without a dense layer of appressed micropulpae on dorsal surface of the first tergite.

Gyne. According to the description (Délye 1971), Oxyopomyrmex emeryi, along with Oxyopomyrmex krueperi and Oxyopomyrmex santschii, belong to a group of species that have the genae covered with longitudinal striae without rugosity. In this group, O. emeryi is distinguished by punctation occurring between the longitudinal striation on the lateral surfaces of the thorax. The two other known species from this group are characterized by the lateral surfaces of the thorax bearing longitudinal striation with rugosity or a smooth surface between the striae.

Male. Oxyopomyrmex emeryi is one of two known species that is devoid of propodeal spines (Délye 1971). In this group, O. emeryi differs from Oxyopomyrmex magnus by having the scutellum covered by longitudinal striae on the entire surface, whereas O. magnus has at least the center of the scutellum smooth and shiny, without striation.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Algeria, Tunisia.

Nomenclature

 *  emeryi. Oxyopomyrmex emeryi Santschi, 1908: 524, fig. 9 (w.) TUNISIA. Delye, 1971: 211 (q.m.).

Worker
Salata and Borowiec (2015) - (n=39): HL: 0.732 ± 0.017 (0.698-0.76); HW: 0.721 ± 0.018 (0.692-0.758); SL: 0.537 ± 0.014 (0.514-0.559); EL: 0.307 ± 0.009 (0.291-0.319); EW: 0.167 ± 0.005 (0.162-0.179); ML: 0.923 ± 0.037 (0.849-1.005); PSL: 0.192 ± 0.012 (0.162-0.218); SDL: 0.136 ± 0.008 (0.123-0.156); PL: 0.339 ± 0.019 (0.313-0.363); PPL: 0.245 ± 0.01 (0.223-0.257); PH: 0.239 ± 0.009 (0.223-0.257); PPH: 0.232 ± 0.008 (0.221-0.246); PNW: 0.469 ± 0.011 (0.448-0.492); TL: 0.567 ± 0.022 (0.52-0.587); TW: 0.105 ± 0.006 (0.092-0.117); PW: 0.188 ± 0.012 (0.162-0.201); PPW: 0.279 ± 0.012 (0.268-0.302); HI: 98.4 ± 1.2 (94.6-100.7); SI1: 73.4 ± 1.4 (70.9-76.0); EI: 54.4 ± 1.9 (51.8-57.7); SI2: 74.3 ± 1.3 (72.0-76.6); MI: 196.9 ± 5.1 (187.4-204.3); SPI: 140.6 ± 10.0 (118.0-162.7); PI1: 141.7 ± 5.6 (130.4-152.3); PI2: 40.2 ± 1.9 (35.8-43.3); PPI1: 104.2 ± 5.4 (94.9-112.2); PPI2: 59.7 ± 1.9 (57.1-63.5); HTI1: 78.8 ± 2.0 (75.0-82.1); HTI2: 18.5 ± 1.1 (15.8-20.3).

Head and abdomen dark brown. Thorax and legs brown to brick-red colour. Antennae dark brown, only apex of the scapes and first segments of funiculus paler.

Head oval, longer than wide. Anterior margin of the clypeus smooth and straight. Eyes elongate, gently narrowing downward, 0.4 times as long as length of the head. Scape short, 0.7 times as long as width of the head, at base 0.83 times as wide as in apex, gradually widened, slightly bent downward. Funiculus short, 1.45 times as long as scape, the first segment elongate, triangular, 1.4 times as long as wide on apex, 1.9 times as long as second segment, length ratio of segments 100:53:53:59:47:59:71:117:129:224, apical segments 1.6 times as wide as basal segments. Surface of the scape with a very fine microsculpture, shiny, covered with short, appressedor semierect setae.

Promesonotum 1.1 times as long as wide, gently and regularly convex in profile. Promesonotal suture distinct, the border between dorsal and posterior surfaces of the promesonotum gently curved in profile view. Propodeum quadrate, 0.9 times as long as wide, propodeal spines short, triangular but thin, rising obliquely upwards. Petiole rounded with a short peduncle, its anterior face slightly convex, node angulated in profile. Posterior face slightly rounded. Ventral margin of petiole straight or with a small ventral lobe. Postpetiole regularly rounded in profile. In dorsal view postpetiole 1.1 times as long as wide, regularly widened from base to top, apical half with gently rounded sides.

Mandibles rounded, with outer and dorsal edges straight and smooth, inner margin with 7-8 teeth, apical tooth massive and long. Clypeus smooth and shiny on the entire surface. Frontal carinae short, extending to 1/3 length of the eye, antennal fossa area deeply impressed, shiny, frontal lobes with thin longitudinal rugae, microreticulate, shiny between rugosities. Frons shiny, with longitudinal striae, distinct reticulation. Area above eyes shiny and distinctly reticulate to microreticulate, ventral surface of head with indistinct microreticulation or microgranulate, gena smooth and shiny. Entire head bearing setae, posterior margin with sparse erect setae directed forward, sides of the head with a few appressed setae directed toward anterior margin, frontal area with sparse, appressed to semierect setae placed transversely, directed to the centre of the head, ventral surface of the head with a prominent psammophore and appressed to erect, long setae. Pronotum shiny, and finely punctate on the entire surface, only lateral surfaces micropunctae or smooth. Dorsal suface of pronotum shiny, punctate with transverse rugae. Mesonotum punctate on the entire surface, lateral surfaces with several transverse striae on posterior surface, propodeum punctate, with distinct oblique rugae below spiracles (Figs. 1, 2, 73). Dorsal suface of mesosoma with at least 5 erect setae on anterior half, mesonotum and propodeum with a few erect setae. Base of petiole and postpetiole punctate on the entire surface, nodes punctate, micropunctate on top, shiny, bearing several sparse setae. Gaster shiny with micropunctation or shagreened; bearing sparse, erect and semierect setae.

Legs short, hind femora 0.8 times as long as mesosoma length, hind tibia 0.7 times as long as hind femora, hind tarsi 1.2 times as long as hind femora. Dorsal surface of femora with short, sparse, appressed setae, inner margin with a row of sparse, short setae, tibiae covered with short, appressed to semierect pubescence on the entire surface, with a row of slightly long and more erect setae on inner margins

Type Material
Salata and Borowiec (2015) - Lectotype worker (top on the pin) (present designation): O. Emeryi Tunisie Kairouan Dr Santschi Sammlung Dr. F. Santschi Kairouan CASENT 0101200 ANTWEB red label ; 27 paralectotype workers: the same data as lectotype (NHMB).