Tetramorium hirsutum

Described from a type collection found in a malaise sample.

Identification
Collingwood & van Harten (2005) -This small species differs from others in the same size range by the clypeus with its median notch, distinct antennal scrobes, excessive pilosity and the smoothly rounded alitrunk dorsum. This combination of characters seemingly excludes this species from any of the groups listed by Bolton (1980) in the Afrotropical zoogeographic region.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Saudi Arabia, Yemen.

Nomenclature

 *  hirsutum. Tetramorium hirsutum Collingwood & van Harten, 2005: 76, fig. 4 (w.q.) YEMEN.

Worker
TL 2.36 (2.25-2.37), HL 0.61, HW 0.53, ScL 0.36, PW 0.24, PPW 0.27, Eye L 0.145. The mandibles are clear with scattered punctures. The clypeus is notched; the segmented antennae have wide, well-developed scrobes. In dorsal view the pronotum is sharply angled, the propodeum has short strong teeth, the nodes are slightly broader than long with rounded sides. In profile the· alitrunk is a smoothly rounded dome. The head and alitrunk have longitudinal rugose sculpture. All surfaces including antennae and legs are clothed with dense fme short hairs. Colour light brown.

Queen
TL 2.53, HW 0.59. The scrobes are well developed, the general body sculpture is more reticulopunctate than that of the worker, pilosity dense as in the worker.

Type Material
Holotype: worker, Lahj, IX.2000, in Malaise trap, A. VAN HARTEN & A. SALLAM leg. Paratypes: queens and workers, same data as holotype. The types of the new species will be deposited in the Liverpool Museum, Liverpool, UK.