Solenopsis sumara

The type series was collected from "small crowded nests under stones."

Identification
Sharaf & Aldawood (2012) - Solenopsis sumara is readily distinguished from its relative Solenopsis zingibara by the following characters: head subrectangular; frons without frontal striae; eyes tiny, with two ommatidia; petiolar node in profile massive, high and rounded, in dorsal view clearly broader than long.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Yemen.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  sumara. Solenopsis sumara Collingwood & Agosti, 1996: 359 (w.) YEMEN.

Worker
Sharaf & Aldawood (2012) - Lectotype major. TL 2.37; HL 0.62; HW 0.50; SL 0.40; PRW 0.32; EL 0.04; ML 0.62; PL 0.20; PW 0.22; PPL 0.15; PPW 0.20; Indices: SI 80; CI 81.

Paralectotypes (major). TL 1.68–2.48; HL 0.44–0.65; HW 0.36–0.55; SL 0.28–0.42; PRW 0.17–0.35; EL 0.04; ML 0.48–0.65; PL 0.15–0.20; PW 0.12–0.22; PPL 0.11–0.15; PPW 0.12–0.18; Indices: SI 71–83; CI 70–91 (5 measured).

Major. Head subrectangular with nearly parallel sides and narrower anteriorly than posteriorly and slightly but distinctly concave posterior margin; smooth and shining but with widely-spaced punctures; eyes minute, oval with two ommatidia, an upper larger one and a much smaller lower one (originally described as with two-three ommatidia); central clypeal teeth quite prominent and incurved with lateral teeth easily visible in full-face view (originally stated as hardly visible in dorsal view). Promesonotum flat; metanotal groove deep; basal face of propodeum forms a continuous curve with the declivity, which is much longer; spiracle circular. Petiole in profile with a massive and high rounded node and in dorsal view clearly broader than long or scarcely as long as broad; with a short peduncle. Postpetiole little broader than long or as long as broad, with node feebly convex or nearly flat. Pilosity abundant on the head but scarce on pronotum, mesonotum and gaster; propodeum bare or has only one pair of seta. Setae of scape slightly longer than maximum width of scape. Unicolorous dirty yellowish or yellowish brown, with lateral clypeal margins and mandibular teeth reddish yellow. General appearance smooth and shining.

Type Material
Sharaf & Aldawood (2012) - (2) major workers, YEMEN: Sumara Pass, 7.III.1993, 2800 m (sic 2500 in Collingwood & Agosti, 1996) (C. A. Collingwood) [examined, one of the workers is designated here as lectotype ].

In the original description Collingwood and Agosti listed only three specimens, the holotype and two paratypes but no clearly labeled holotype could be found in WMLC and only two specimens with red labels [Sumara Pass, 7.iii.1993, 2800 m] are exist without clear mentioning they are paratypes. It is highly unlikely, that the authors collected exactly two workers for the species, and not more. To prove that we looked for any type materials in the alcohol preserved collection in WMLC and a small tube with six specimens that has the same type locality data was found. The mentioned tube has been identified by Cedric Collingwood (pers. comm.) as containing the type materials, therefore, we believe that the original type series is in existence. We designate a lecotype in this study to unequivocally ascertain the identity of the species Solenopsis sumara. Queens and males are unknown.