Temnothorax tamriensis

This species has been captured with pitfall traps. It is likely that nests occur in fissures in the ground and workers forage nocturnally. Seasonal sampling during 2016 showed strong worker activity during spring and summer and low activity at the end of winter; no workers were captured in autumn, which is usually very dry.

Identification
Ajerrar et al. (2018) - A member of the laurae species group (Cagniant & Espalder, 1997), which is characterized by a generally faint sculpture and large oval eyes.

T. tamriensis presents significant similarities (same general appearance, neighboring coloring) with Temnothorax universitatis described from the University of Alicante (its only known locality). To a lesser extent, it also reminds Temnothorax mimeuri described from the Mamora Forest near Rabat (Morocco) and also found by one author (HC) in the Tangier region. Main differences between these forms are:

T. universitatis workers have the largest eyes both in relative measure: Large eye diameter / length of the head = 0.253 to 0.310, n = 6, and in absolute measurements: Large eye diameter = 0.186 to 0.232 mm with 12-15 rank omatidies; the head is wider: Length / width of the head = 1.107 to 1.225 and the scapes shorter: Length of the scape / width head = 0.857 - 0.961. Spines are also clearly shorter: index = 1.505 to 1.910, slightly smaller than their basal interval. Deeper metanotal furrow. In addition, T. universitatis has a higher petiole, more triangularly shape: Length of petiole / height = 1.185 - 1,270 and more angular postpetiole, with maximum front width: Width / Length = 1.069 - 1.381.

T. universitatis queen, from the photography on AntWeb (FOCOL1811-2); its sculpture appears more pronounced with sharp wrinkles on the face but lower on mesosoma where scutum and scutellum are smooth, the sides and propodeum rugulose.

T. mimeuri have smaller eyes: Large diameter / length head = 0.235 to 0.288, n = 4; spines are long: index = 1.402 to 1.787, but the head is not as elongated: Length / width = 1.142 to 1.183. The petiole is thick triangular: Length / height = 1.046 to 1.114. Body size is also smaller = 2.3 - 2.5 mm.

In Temnothorax laurae antoniae from the Atlas of Marrakech (Morocco), the eye index is: 0.241 - 0.283; 0.2654 ± 0.0190; n = 18; This Moroccan subspecies of a described species from Kairouan (Tunisia) is pale yellow and it cannot be confused with T. tamriensis.

Apart from the eye size, the species of the laurae group show very heterogeneous characteristics: colour is often yellow, but also brown or black; setation and sculpture are more or less developed, pro-mesonotal suture more or less distinct, the configuration of metanotal suture is varying from a simple depression to a much widened groove. Spine length is very varying too. Petiolar shape can be more or less pedunculated and its node can be rounded to triangular or square. This variability calls on the monophyletic structure of the group, mainly used by convenience. In other words, the different big-eyed species may be only nocturnal adaptations in semi-arid, arid or desert areas of all other groups, generally more homogeneous in their morphological characters.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Morocco.

Biology
Ajerrar et al. (2018) - A survey carried out on 05 and November 6, 2017 uncovered 2 dealate queens in 2 locations, each nesting in a small gallery in a limestone but no worker was observed then. A queen was taken to attempt a laboratory culture, the other was left in place.

The type sampling site is a hill resort near the village of Tamri (30 ° 42 N - 9 ° 50 W; western part of the High Atlas), about 35 km NNW of Agadir, 86 m altitude. The location is flat and sunny all day. Loamy brown red, stony, on limestone colluvium. The Argane tree is here in its conventional aspect of spaced forest without undergrowth (Emberger, 1938), with trees between 3 and 7 meters high (photography 4). We note the existence of a few feet of wild olive, broom, buckthorn, sumac and asparagus on the outskirts of the small wadies.

Bioclimatically is semiarid with hot winter (Sauvage, 1963); low annual rainfall ranging between 400 mm (Safi) and 250 mm (Agadir) (Msanda et al., 2005). The Area of the Argane tree, "the most original forest essence of Morocco" (Metro, 1958), covers 800,000 to 830,000 hectares (see map, fig. 6). The human impact is significant, with cereal crops (mainly barley) and goat grazing (photography 5), which plays a role as dispersion factor but also as degradation of the Argane tree (Aziki, 2002 ; Faouzi and Martin, 2014).

Temnothorax tamriensis is interesting in several respects. It can be described as "rare" and probably "localized". The species was not noted until now despite the sampling efforts and research along 25 years of research of one of us (Cagniant, 2006) on the whole Moroccan territory (but not on Tamri!). This species could play a role as bioindicator of the Argane tree. It also represents another example of Morocco importance as a center of the North African ant fauna (Cagniant, 2006) biodiversity. With its proximity to Temnothorax universitatis (which we propose to consider as the "sister species"), it confirms the North African contributions to the Iberian fauna. Male discovery could provide new evidences on this issue.

Nomenclature

 *  tamriensis. Temnothorax tamriensis Ajerrar et al., 2018: 97, figs. 1-3 (w.q.) MOROCCO.

Worker
Body Length: 2.7-3.4 mm. Head and gaster dark reddish brown; mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole yellowish brown, the mesosoma darkening at sides and pronotum, but without becoming as dark as the head and gaster. First basal half of gaster tergite becoming yellowish in some individuals; sternites 2 and 3 yellow, the corresponding terga can also become brighter on the edges. Mandibles, antennae and legs yellow; antennal club not darkened.

Head elongated with straight lateral sides and well-rounded occipital angles. Clypeus convex. Oval eyes as large as ¼ of the cephalic length; 9 to 12 ommatidia (generally 10) on the major axis. Mesosomal dorsum in lateral view straight with indistinct pro-mesonotal suture and mesopropodeal suture present, more or less marked according to the individuals. Propodeal spines long, thin, sharp, slightly curved inwards, longer than the spine base distance, which is concave and nearly as wide as half the length of the spine : width of basal distance / head width = 0.30 - 0.39).

Petiolar node pedunculated; in profile view its frontal side approximately straight towards the dorsal side which is more or less bent and slightly tilted back and falls like a "stair-step" towards the joint with the postpetiole. In dorsal view the summit is narrow and rounded; postpetiole one third wider than petiole, with convex sides and maximum width in the middle.

Head mainly smooth, with some rugulae between the frontal ridges and in front of the eyes. Clypeus with a median keel surrounded by 2-3 shorter parallel lines. Pronotum and mesonotum smooth; rugose laterally on the meso and metepisternum; this rugulae continued to the sides of propodeum and dorsally to the base of spines. Petiole and postpetiole reticulated, becoming smooth dorsally on postpetiole. Gaster smooth and shiny.

Pubescence scattered all over the body, the setae short, bold and truncated; sparse on the head and trunk; the longer bristles, on petioles, rarely exceed 0.092 mm; those of the head and back are on average 0.055 mm. The first gastral tergite with spaced setae (long. 0.060 mm) over its entire surface, the rest of tergites on the distal edge.

Queen
Length: 3.8 mm. Overall colour dark reddish-brown, with legs and antennae slightly brownish yellow; smooth overall appearance. Head elongated with occipital rounded angles. Small ocelli: diameter of the distal ocellum / distance between the two subsequent ocelli = 0.166. Mesosoma low: long / height at the scutellum = 1.878; scutum and scutellum are flat in lateral view; metanotal suture is marked by a narrow groove; propodeal declivity at an angle of about 120°; spines long, one third longer than their distance at the base. Petiole shortly pedunculated, dorsally rounded. Postpetiole angular, widest forward.

Head shiny head with only three or four rugulae between the frontal ridges, reaching the eye level. These with 14-15 omatidies in the longest row. Scutum, scutellum with fine rugulation, interspaces shiny; mesosoma laterally with the same rugulation, parallel, without cross-meshes. Propodeum reticulated - rugulated. Nodes reticulated. Gaster smooth. Setation as in workers.

Etymology
Named “from Tamri”, Moroccan place where it was collected.