Messor medioruber

Identification
Collingwood and Agosti (1996) - HW 2.0; EL/HW 0.245. This bicoloured species differs from Messor meridionalis by the numerous dorsal hairs over the alitrunk and gaster and the shape of the postpetiole which has a flat ventral surface without a protruding process when viewed in full profile.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates. Palaearctic Region: Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Morocco, Tunisia.

It is known to occur in North Africa, Saudi Arabia and Iraq (Abdul-Rassoul et al. 2013).

Nomenclature

 *  medioruber. Messor barbarus st. mediorubra Santschi, 1910a: 44 (w.q.m.) TUNISIA. [First available use of Stenamma (Messor) barbarum r. capitatum var. mediorubra Forel, 1905b: 176; unavailable name.] Subspecies of instabilis: Santschi, 1923f: 325; of minor: Santschi, 1927c: 237. Raised to species: Cagniant, 1968a: 143; Cagniant, 1970a: 415. Senior synonym of sublaeviceps: Cagniant & Espadaler, 1998: 426. Current subspecies: nominal plus maurus, montanus, postquadratus, postpetiolatus.
 * sublaeviceps. Messor sublaeviceps Santschi, 1927c: 241 (w.q.) TUNISIA. [First available use of Messor barbarus st. meridionalis var. sublaeviceps Santschi, 1910a: 45; unavailable name.] Subspecies of medioruber: Cagniant, 1970a: 416. Junior synonym of medioruber: Cagniant & Espadaler, 1998: 426.